Connolly, James (1868-1916), was an Irish trade union leader and nationalist. In 1913, with James Larkin, he organized a large strike by transportation workers in Dublin. He then formed the Irish Citizen Army, which joined with the Irish Volunteers in the Easter Rising of 1916. Connolly was one of the seven signers of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, published during the rebellion, which declared Ireland independent. He was arrested during the Easter Rising and executed on May 12, 1916.