13.11.2013
Trade Union Members Commemorate 1913 Lockout
A Service of Remembrance for those involved in the 1913 Lockout and for those who have worked in the trade union movement in the intervening years took place in the University Church on Stephen’s Green yesterday evening, November 12.
Organised by SIPTU as part of their 1913 Lockout commemorations, the service was attended by church leaders from across the faith communities. The Church of Ireland was represented by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Diarmuid Martin was also present while the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Revd Dr Heather Morris and the Moderator of the Presybterian Church, the Right Revd Dr Robert Craig also took part.
There were also contributions from Joe Armstrong of Humanist Association of Ireland, the Revd Bridget Spain of Dublin Unitarian Church, John McCormick of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Maurice Cohen of Irish Jewish Community and Fr Godfrey O’Donnell of the Romanian Orthodox Church and President of the Irish Council of Churches.
The service was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn, the General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the General President of SIPTU, Jack O’Connor.
Introducing the service, SIPTU Vice President, Patricia King, said the evening was about remembering. She said there had already been commemorations but that it was time to remember those who took part in the Lockout, those who founded the movement, all the union staff who have worked tirelessly over the years, the shop stewards and union representatives and all members who had gone before in pursuit of justice and fairness in society.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin spoke of the Dublin of 1913 describing it as a divided city with pockets of great wealth and areas of extreme poverty where people lived in squalor. He said mainstream society failed to see the shadows of poverty. He said that continued to be true today where, in a wealthier Dublin, the mainstream was still blinded by selfishness. He said that last year the Crosscare foodbank gave out 500 tonnes of food and this year so far it had given out 750 tonnes. He asked that society hear and respond to the plight of the poor.
During the service candles were lit as an act of remembrance, soloist Jimmy Kelly sang ‘Dublin City 1913 by D MacDonagh and the Last Post Lament was played by Seamus O’Rourke of the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band.
Photo: Church leaders attended SIPTU’s 1913 Lockout Service of Remembrance