Historic trade union banners and the Fintan Lalor pipe band will lead SIPTU members in this year’s Dublin May Day march which begins at Parnell Square at 7.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 1st May. The march will proceed from Parnell Square to Liberty Hall where it will conclude with a rally addressed by young trade unionists. The event will also include a pageant by the community group the Spectacle of Defiance and a moving version of the famous Jim Larkin statue brought to life by Equal Ireland.Leading the SIPTU contingent will be ten historic banners created for the ITGWU by Dublin banner artist Jer O’Leary. The banners feature images of trade union leaders including Jim Larkin and James Connolly as well as images of the 1913 Lockout.SIPTU Dublin District Committee secretary, John Dunne, said; “The theme of this year’s march is 1913-2013 unfinished business. The ‘unfinished business’ includes legislation to ensure recognition of trade unions in all employments and negotiating rights for all members. It also refers to the creation of a fair and equal Ireland as envisaged by the founders of the trade union movement. “This year’s march is also a celebration of our trade union culture with the magnificent banners of SIPTU’s predecessor union, the ITGWU founded by Larkin and Connolly, on display.” He added: “We are also very proud to have members of the Fintan Lalor pipe band leading our contingent. The band was founded by members of the ITGWU in 1912 and was incorporated into the Irish Citizen Army during the 1913 Lockout. During this period the pipe band often led workers on marches as they confronted employers who were trying to force our union out of existence.”
Historic banners to the fore in Dublin May Day march
