The Great Dublin Lockout remains the seminal event in the history of the Irish working class. That epic struggle also ranks as one of the great battles in the history of the workers’ movement.

Trade union badges first became commonplace with the rise of the ‘New Unionism’ of the 1890s among the previously unorganised dockers, carters and general workers in Britain and Ireland.

SIPTU was established in 1990 – with the merger of the country’s two largest unions, the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union and the Federated Workers’ Union of Ireland.

Commemorating James Gralton, a forgotten Irish socialist, we reflect on his legacy of struggle, solidarity, and social justice as well as his impact on trade unionism and the enduring fight for workers’ rights in Ireland.

One of the lessons we might learn is that unless we make a real effort to document the achievements of our female trade unionists, we are losing opportunities to point to Union women as role models.

A plaque commemorating four “Lockout Martyrs” of 1913 can be found attached to a wall on the ground floor in Liberty Hall.

The recourse to a lockout on the part of foundry owners was a pre-emptive blow aimed at ensuring that the newly emergent ITGWU would not get itself established in the industry in Wexford.

This article tells the story of 3 Dublin printers who risked their lives to print the Proclamation highlighting the often-forgotten role of workers in the fight for independence.