On 8th December 1922 – Liam Mellows, and three of his republican comrades Rory O’Connor, Joe McKelvey and Dick Barrett, were executed by the Irish Free State government as a reprisal for the shooting dead of TD Sean Hales.
Liam’s last written message was to his fellow republican prisoners in ‘C’ Wing, Mountjoy Prison, and was written shortly before his execution took place at 7.30am. It was delivered by a prison guard to Liam’s cell mate and close friend, Eamon Martin (Fianna Eireann Chief of Staff).
It read as follows:
To my dear comrades in Mountjoy,
God bless you boys and may he give you fortitude, courage and wisdom to suffer and endure all for Ireland’s sake, An Poblacht Abu,
Liam Ó Maoilíosa
(Liam Mellows)
Mountjoy Prison
7.30am
Dec 8 1922
The History of Na Fianna Éireann 