A Jesuit priest whose father was executed 1916 leader Michael Mallin has just celebrated his 102nd birthday.
Fr Joseph Mallin marked his birthday at the weekend surrounded by friends and family in Hong Kong, where he has lived for several decades.
The former missionary, who left Ireland to work in China in 1948, is the only surviving child of the Irish Citizen Army’s chief of staff, who was second in command to James Connolly.
Fr Mallin became a priest at the request of his father who was executed for his role in the Rising by a British army firing squad at Kilmainham Gaol in May 1916.
Hours before his death, the father-of-four wrote: “Joseph, my little man, be a priest if you can.”
The elderly cleric’s family has said he is unlikely to be able to attend next year’s centenary commemorations, which feature events all over Ireland to remember those who fought and died during the rebellion.
Meanwhile, the public can discover how Dublin’s priests ministered to the injured and dying during the Rising during an event taking place as part of the Archdiocese of Dublin Culture Night experience this Friday.
Twenty priests were involved in ministering to those caught up in the events of Easter week on both sides of the divide.
Also among the newly released documents are letters from the British General John Maxwell asking for the removal of “rebellious priests”.
Diocesan Archivist Noelle Dowling will give a series of talks explaining the context and background of the the documents from the archive from 1916.
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