Arthur Griffith, Sinn Féin & 1916, Irish Independent (online edition), published 9th March 2016.
The Easter Rising was popularly termed the ‘Sinn Féin Rebellion’ but what was the real role of the party and its leader Arthur Griffith? The party, in fact, would have gradually faded away had the Rising not occurred, says historian Gerard Shannon.=
‘The Sinn Féin Rebellion’ became a popular, though paradoxical, term given to the 1916 Easter Rising during its aftermath. Although the Sinn Féin party had certain leadership figures and other combatants amongst its ranks, as an organised body it had absolutely no involvement in the planning or fighting on the rebel side.