1916

A garda standing by the entrance to the GPO on O'Connell Street in Dublin. In the Easter Rising of 1916 this was the headquarters of the rebels, led by Pearse. He read the Proclamation of Independence in the street outside and declared Ireland to be a Republic, free of British rule. They held out for a week, despite heavy shelling, before Pearse ordered the surrender. More than 500 people died, most were civilians. Pearse and the other leaders were court-martialled and executed by firing squad. It's thought that the execution of these men helped to turn a mainly apathetic public against the British and to support independence. 

And now, having walked across Dublin from the conference venue, I might take a tiny disco nap