The first of three dramatic banners recalling the 1913 Lockout in Dublin was draped on the south-facing side of Liberty Hall last Saturday (14th September) as part of a special installation, The Story of the Lockout. The banner (pictured) features Jim Larkin and the events of the first Bloody Sunday on August 31st 1913.

The three-sided wrap will be installed around Liberty Hall to provide a unique focal point for the commemorative year by depicting the story of the Lockout. The Lockout ‘graphic novel’  will build on and complement the programme for the commemoration as well as drawing attention and making links to the full programme of 1913 commemoration events.

Tapestry

On Wednesday (18th) President Michael D Higgins launched a tapestry depicting scenes and imagery from the 1913 Lockout at a special event in Liberty Hall. The tapestry, which consists of 30 panels designed by artists Cathy Henderson and Robert Ballagh, was created by over 200 volunteers from trade unions, communities, schools and prisons across the country.

Before formally launching the tapestry, President Higgins met a number of the volunteers who worked on the panels. Addressing a capacity crowd in the Liberty Hall Theatre, the President paid tribute to the work of the volunteers in bringing the events of the 1913 Lockout to life for a new generation.

He said the tapestry and the communal manner in which it was produced was “the embodiment of the civic spirit” that had also inspired workers of 1913. He welcomed the co-operation of the SIPTU and the National College of Art and Design whose director, Professor Declan McGonagle, who also addressed the audience of tapestry volunteers as well as community workers and trade unionists.


1913 Events

A series of events marking the centenary of the Dublin Lockout continue into October including:

• ITUC Digital Archive, Trinity College Dublin
• September 1913: A solidarity gathering (Sunday 22nd September - see 'Related Articles' below)
• Dublin Festival of History: Duel personalities (29th September)
• Dublin Divided art exhibition, Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Parnell Square (26 September 2013-02 February 2014)
• The Food Ship Re-enactment, Dublin Port (5-6 October 2013)
• Banners Unfurled: Lockout 1913, National Museum (09 October to 14 November 2013)

More details of these events, and a full list of other special events, is available HERE.