Just after the Easter Rising, as executions of its leaders began, The Irish Times predicted that the rebellion would "pass into history with the equally unsuccessful insurrections of the past."

This raises one of history's great imponderables: what might have happened if the British had not executed the leaders? Would the widespread anger and dismay at the destruction and loss of life have subsided, or would it have fuelled ongoing resentment? Would the initial hostility towards the rebels on the streets of Dublin have persisted if the executions had not occurred, or would the leaders have become martyrs, shifting public sentiment in their favour?

The British decision to execute the leaders undoubtedly intensified support for the cause, helping to galvanise the independence movement. This case demonstrates the power of martyrdom in mythmaking and national narratives—how death in service of a cause transforms individuals into symbols that transcend their historical context, reshaping public memory and political allegiance.