Curragh Stable Lads Strike

The early 1920s were a turbulent time for Ireland. Following the War of Independence and The Civil War, Ireland experienced a severe economic depression.

Farmers in the west of Ireland were the most severely hit with poor harvest prospects and little to no employment prospects.

One industry that was still thriving during these difficult economic times was horse racing. In 1922 differences were briefly put aside during the Civil War to find the winner of the 1922 Irish Derby. Horse racing was still proving to be financially fruitful, however the downturn in the home economy had encouraged owners to reduce training fees. In this newsreel from the Curragh in 1924, the impact of the downturn in the economy is shown as stable boys strike after having their wages cut.