–So. Here we are. The big day. Are we all here, comrades?

–It’s hard to say.

–I know what you mean. I’ve never seen O’Connell Street so crowded. We should have anticipated this, I suppose. Especially with the weather being so good. It’s glorious, isn’t it?

–I have a proposal.

–Yes, comrade?

–Hang on, I’ll let this family pass first. Okay – I propose that we call it Sackville Street.

–O’Connell Street?

–Just for the day. The way it used to be in 1916. So we can get worked up, a bit. In the absence of the British.

–I’m not sure if we’ll be able to organise a vote, comrade, given the crowds. Sorry – excuse me? Your little boy is after putting that leaflet into his mouth – he just picked it up off the ground. You’re welcome. Sure, I was always swallowing leaflets when I was his age. Sorry, comrade – go on.

–Just – I thought it might be a good idea. Re-renaming the street, like.

–Who was Sackville anyway?

–Ah, there now – I know the answer. One of my kids did a project on it – oh, years ago. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, I’m guessing some time in the early 18th century.

–Well, we can name it anything we want. After one of us, even.

–That’s an exciting prospect, actually. Who says revolution isn’t fun? But first, we’d better earn our street names. So – logistics. How are we going to get across the street and into the GPO in a good, tight military formation? It’s very crowded. There is a lovely atmosphere, actually, isn’t there?

–Bagsie Grafton Street.

–Sorry?

–I want Grafton Street to be named after me.

–If you die, I’m assuming. Sorry – I don’t mean to be insensitive.

–Yeah – yeah, only if I die.

–We should start at the Spire. It looks a bit less crowded from there.

–I’m just after getting a text. Bad news, I’m afraid. We won’t be seeing our Tallaght comrades today. They can’t get in because of the Luas strike.

–Can they not get the bus?

–I was just thinking the same thing.

–Or cycle?

–It’s quite a distance.

–It’s a revolution. I mean - Lenin made it to Moscow.

–But did he cycle, comrade?

–Well, I’m going for a coffee then. It might be the last chance until the surrender. Anyone else want one?

–I’ll have a flat white, please. It’s like the Electric Picnic, isn’t it?

–There’s loads of stuff all over the city.

–They always get this sort of thing right, really, don’t they? Commemorations and that.

–Comrades.

–Did you see the march and the ceremony yesterday?

–Comrades!

–It brought a lump to my throat. I was nearly crying watching. All the relatives.

–Comrades!!

–What?

–I’m postponing it.

–The Rising?

–Yes – I’m sorry. I’m forced into the decision.

–Okay.

–No!

–Ah – Daniela.

–Fernanda.

–Fernanda. You all made it.

–Not postpone.

–It’s disappointing, I know. But, really, we don’t have a choice. The conditions are just too chaotic. And too many of the comrades haven’t turned up, for one reason or another.

–And the GPO’s shut.

–Is it really? Well, then. We wouldn’t be able to storm the GPO today, anyway. It’s locked.

–That is mad – I don’t understand.

–We can come back next week.

–Not next week. Must be today!

–Sorry, Fernanda – have you something else on next weekend? We could go for the week after.

–Cowards!

–Ah now.

–Traitors!

–Ah, really now. There’s no need for – Are they all going?

–Looks like it.

–I can see their point, I suppose. But –

–It would have been madness.

–We could break the windows, I suppose, and get in that way.

–They’d be shatter-proof.

–I was thinking that.

–They’re bound to be – yes. Where would we be today if there’d been shatter-proof glass in 1916?

–Still part of the British Empire.

–More than likely, comrade. They had it easy back then, really, when it came to the planning. Didn’t they? Everything seems to have been easier.

–Where’s the noise coming from?

–Over there – I think.

–Why are they cheering?

–Look!

–What?

–Look! On the roof! The GPO!

–It’s – is it? Fernanda and Daniela and the others.

–They’re after countermanding your order, comrade. They’ve gone ahead on their own.

–They’ve taken down the tricolour – look! What’s that flag they’re putting up instead of it? It’s green and yellow.

–Brazil.

–Are they declaring a Republic of Brazil?

–There’s another going up – look. It looks like a picture of a family. Two adults, two children. What are the words under it?

–‘Death to the Oppressor.’

–There’s another one unfurling there – on the far flagpole. I can’t make out the words.

-‘L‘Oréal,’ it says. ‘Because You’re Worth It.’

–My God – they even got sponsorship.