This newsreel shows a large gathering of people in front of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union building (Liberty Hall). They are joined by Jim Larkin, founder of the Irish Labour Party, ITGWU and the Workers Union of Ireland. This was most likely taken during the Lockout period of 1913 as we see shots of boats arriving with what appears to be supplies from English trade unions for the locked out workers.
The Dublin Lockout was a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers which took place in Dublin. The dispute lasted from August 26th 1913 to January 18th 1914, and is often viewed as the most severe and significant industrial dispute in Irish history. Central to the dispute was the workers’ right to unionise. Jim Larkin was instrumental in bringing about a socialist revolution by establishing trade unions and calling for general strikes.
