Padraig O’Ceallaigh went to the Fairyhouse Races on Easter Monday, and while there, heard about the Rising. He arrived at the GPO that night and was told to go to Jacob’s. His statement is interesting on the class composition of the garrison – “practically all of the middle and working-class – clerks, shop-assistants, tradesmen, labourers – ‘the great common people of Ireland’”. He also tells us “that the Rising was a gallant but hopeless venture which could not end but in early defeat seemed the general feeling amongst the Jacob’s garrison.”