View source for Willie Pearse

{{Short description|Irish revolutionary (1881–1916)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Redirect|William Pearse|the Australian MP|William Silas Pearse}}
{{Infobox military person
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|df=y|1881|11|15}}
| death_date    = {{death date and age|df=y|1916|5|4|1881|11|15}}
| birth_place   = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| death_place   = [[Kilmainham Gaol]], Dublin, Ireland
| death_cause   = [[Execution by firing squad]]
| image         = williepearse.jpg
| caption       = 
| allegiance    = [[Irish Volunteers]]
| serviceyears  = 1913–1916
| rank          = 
| commands      = 
| unit          = 
| battles       = [[Easter Rising]]
| awards        = 
| laterwork     = 
}}
'''William James Pearse''' ({{langx|ga|Uilliam Seamus Mac Piarais}}; 15 November 1881 – 4 May 1916)<ref>Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, ''Last Words'', The Stationery Office (Dublin), {{ISBN|0-7076-0101-0}}, pg.76</ref> was an Irish republican executed for his part in the [[Easter Rising]]. He was a younger brother of [[Patrick Pearse]], a leader of the rising.

==Background==
Willie Pearse was born in [[Dublin]] and throughout his life lived in the shadow of his brother to whom he was devoted and with whom he formed a particularly close relationship.<ref>Seán Farrell Moran, ''Patrick Pearse and the Politics of Redemption'', 1994</ref>

Pearse inherited his father's artistic abilities and became a sculptor. He was educated at the [[List of Christian Brothers schools#County Dublin|Christian Brothers School]], [[Westland Row]]. He studied at the [[Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin]] under [[Oliver Sheppard]]. He also studied art in Paris. While attending the [[Kensington School of Art in London]]<ref name="IrishCentral">{{cite web | url=http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/Easter-Rising-leader-executed-in-1916-William-Pearse.html | title=Easter Rising leader executed in 1916: William Pearse | work=IrishCentral | date=24 April 2016 | access-date=11 May 2016 | author=McEvoy, Dermot | archive-date=9 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509000813/http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/Easter-Rising-leader-executed-in-1916-William-Pearse.html | url-status=live }}</ref> he gained notice for several of his artworks. Some of his sculptures are to be found in [[St John's Cathedral, Limerick|Limerick Cathedral]], the [[Cathedral of St. Eunan and St Columba]], [[Letterkenny]] and several Dublin churches.<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/history/east1916.html#wmp Easter Rising – 1916<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919061150/http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/history/east1916.html#wmp |date=19 September 2007 }}, [[RootsWeb]]</ref> He was trained to take over his father's [[stonemason]] business, but gave it up to help run [[St. Enda's School]] which Patrick had founded in 1908. He was involved in the arts and theatre at St. Enda's, and aided the overall running of the school.

==Easter Rising==
Pearse followed his brother into the [[Irish Volunteers]] and the Republican movement. He took part in the [[Easter Rising]] in 1916, always staying by his brother's side at the [[General Post Office (Dublin)|General Post Office]]. Following the surrender he was [[court-martial]]led and sentenced to death. It has been said{{bywho|date=August 2019}} that as he was only a minor player in the struggle it was his surname that condemned him. However, at his court martial he emphasised his involvement.{{fact|date=August 2019}}

On 3 May, Pearse was granted permission to visit his brother Patrick in [[Kilmainham Gaol]], to see him for the final time. However, while Willie was en route, Patrick was executed first. Willie was executed on 4 May. He and his brother were the only two brothers to be executed after the Easter Rising.

==Commemoration==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2013}}
There are many more public [[Patrick Pearse#Commemoration|commemorations of Patrick Pearse]] than of Willie. In 1966, [[Dublin]]'s Westland Row railway station was renamed [[Pearse Station]] to honour both Willie and Patrick. [[Pearse Square]] and [[Pearse Street]], in Dublin, were renamed in honour of both,{{dubious|date=November 2013}} Pearse Street (then Great Brunswick Street) having been their birthplace. Many streets and roads in Ireland bear the name Pearse; few name Willie, but there is a Pearse Brothers Park in [[Rathfarnham]]. The bridge over the Dodder river on the Rathfarnham Road, between Terenure and Rathfarnham is named after them and carries a plaque depicting the brothers in profile.

Brothers Pearse Athletic Club, founded in Rathfarnham, is named after the two brothers.

Willie Pearse Park in [[Crumlin, Dublin|Crumlin]], opened in 1949, is named after him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/parks/dublin-city-parks/visit-park/willie-pearse-park#:~:text=Dublin%20City%20Council%27s%20Willie%20Pearse,of%20the%201916%20Easter%20Rising.|title=Willie Pearse Park|date=22 May 2018}}</ref>

A number of [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] clubs and playing fields are named after both Pearses, and at least one after Willie:
* [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]: [[Annaghmore, County Armagh#Sports|Annaghmore Pearses GAC]]; [[Pearse Óg GAC]] and its grounds, [[Pearse Óg Park]], Armagh
* [[Cork GAA|Cork]]: [[Na Piarsaigh GAA|CLG Na Piarsaigh]], Cork 
* [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]: Willie Pearse Park, the grounds of [[Crumlin GAA]]
* [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]: [[Dromid Pearses GAA|Dromid Pearses GAC]]; [[Kilflynn Pearses]] HC (defunct)
* [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]: [[Na Piarsaigh GAA (Limerick)|CLG Na Piarsaigh]], Limerick
* [[Louth GAA|Louth]]: [[List of Gaelic games clubs in Ireland#Louth|CPG Na Piarsaigh]], Dundalk
* [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]: [[Ballybay Pearse Brothers]], and its grounds, Pearse Park
* [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]]: [[Dregish Pearse Og GAC]]; [[Fintona Pearses GAC]]; and [[Galbally Pearses GAC]]
* [[Wicklow GAA|Wicklow]]: [[Pearse Park (Arklow)|Pearses' Park]], Arklow
* [[London GAA|London]]: [[List of Gaelic games clubs outside Ireland#London|Brother Pearse's GAC]], London
* [[Yorkshire GAA|Yorkshire]]: [[List of Gaelic games clubs outside Ireland#Yorkshire|Brothers Pearse GAC]], Huddersfield
* Padraig Pearses GAA club Woodmount County Roscommon. 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Ní Ghairbhí, Róisín, ''Willie Pearse'', Dublin: O'Brien Press, 2015.
{{Easter Rising}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearse, Willie}}
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1916 deaths]]
[[Category:Artists from County Dublin]]
[[Category:Executed participants in the Easter Rising]]
[[Category:Irish revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Pearse family|Willie]]
[[Category:Irish people of English descent]]
[[Category:Executed people from County Dublin]]