Con Colbert, at 27, was one of the youngest of the men executed in 1916. Short in stature, he made up for his lack of height with determination and courage. From Co Limerick, he went to Dublin in 1909 and immersed himself in cultural and political activity. He was the leader of Na Fianna Éireann and would take his scouts on all-night marches into the Dublin mountains for military training. He ensured that Fianna scouts passed into the Irish Volunteers. After his garrison at Jameson’s Distillery surrendered, he was was picked out by detectives of G Division as a prominent “Sinn Féiner”. He had never been a member of Sinn Fein, but that term was used to refer to any rebel. Information about Colbert is scant as he left no writings and few letters, most of which are excerpted here. The author has written an interesting book with the limited sources at his disposal.
