Come Here To Me!

I’ve read many of the memoirs of those who took part in the 1916 rising and later went to write of their experiences, but Margaret Skinnider’s work has always eluded me. It has passed me by once or twice on eBay, and library copies have vanished before I got to them.

Skinnider was born in Coatbridge, Scotland and was a member of Cumann na mBan in Scotland. She fought with the Irish Citizen Army as a sniper during the rebellion and was wounded in the battle. Her book provides interesting personal recollections on the build up to the rising and her experiences during it, and also includes a fascinating list of songs sung by rebels during and after the rebellion. Among these is the song of the Irish Citizen Army, to be sung to the tune of ‘John Brown’s Body’.

It’s an interesting read for those studying or interested in the period. It is available over here, on the Open Library site.