Dublin Lockout 1913

Pivotal Irish labour dispute of 1913: 20,000 locked-out workers against 300 employers

The Dublin Lockout of 1913 stands as the most significant industrial dispute in Irish history. Over 300 Dublin employers locked out around 20,000 workers to crush the rising trade union movement led by Jim Larkin. The conflict ran from August 1913 to January 1914, leaving deep marks on Irish society. Particularly dramatic was the Bloody Sunday of 31 August 1913, when police violently broke up a protest rally. Today the Lockout is seen as a turning point for the Irish labour movement and the founding moment of modern workers' rights on the island.