User:Sineadsweeney15/sandbox

Elizabeth ‘Lily’ Mcalerney Kempson held a major chapter in the Irish 1916 easter rising. Being one of the rebellions oldest survivors, Kempson is called upon periodically to retell her historic story. The seize of Dublin areas by the Irish Volunteer movement and the trade union Citizen Army began on the 24th of April and lasted until the 29th of April. On the 29th of April the seize was over, but if not for the events that unfolded during that easter week, the 1921 treaty lifting British rule from all but six counties would not of occurred. Kempson played a huge role in assisting the rebels during this time, leading to her becoming one of Irelands infamous female rebels. At the age of 19, Kempson was working in the Jacobs biscuit factory, where she and others viewed the British rule as extremely oppressive and that then in turn was responsible for the outrageous poverty many citizens in Ireland were living in. During the time that Kempson worked in the factory, she took part in many labour protests which led to her doing various stints of prison time. Kempson arrived at her union hall that morning to join others and revolt against the British rule that they had grown to detest. She was given direct orders to join a rebel group that was responsible for seizing St. Stephens Green. Many other groups congregated elsewhere and delegated plans to fellow rebels to seize areas in Dublin. They were directed to seize landmark places like Dublin Castle and the General Post Office, which were known symbols of British rule. The rebels had a very small number of 1,700 fighters compared to the 5,000 fighters they expected from the British side. Kempson stated to being afraid when she heard this, and the fear was confirmed when James Connolly, a fellow rebel, stated they were ‘going out to be slaughtered’. Kempson was armed with a revolver as she made her way across the park to the Royal College of Surgeons where she and her fellow rebels hid out on the roof and watched the smoke rise from the General Post Office. As the fighting was taking place across the city, the group disbanded before the police could find them. As the fighting continued on for that week, Kempson involved herself time and time again in the uprising by transporting weaponry for the men who were still inside the seized post office. She also prepared food for the trapped rebels and assisted the injured rebels. After the rising was called off, the government released information on the rebels and which ones were to be executed or exiled. Luckily for Kempson she was exiled to America, where she met her husband and began to enjoy the free life she worked so hard for.