The fascinating story of the document that on Easter Monday, 1916, proclaimed Ireland a republic and a sovereign independent state. On Easter Monday, 24 April 1916, the tricolour flag was hoisted over the General Post Office. Shortly after noon Padraig Pearse, standing beneath the high portico, read the Proclamation publicly proclaiming Ireland a republic and a sovereign independent state. John O'Connor recounts the birth of this historic document which was to become one of the cornerstones of the new state. Why was it necessary? Who wrote it? Who secretly printed it and where? How was it distributed? How many exist? How would you know an authentic print?