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Labour Strikes
James Connolly was born in Scotland and as soldier in the British army in Ireland he saw how the Irish were oppressed. He resigned from the army and became with a leader of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU). James Connolly, a socialist from his heart, wrote also the manifesto for the Irish Socialist Republican Party.
Irish Citizens Army
James Connolly.
(source: L'Irlande, pays martyr)
The Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU), founded by James Larkin, organised numerous strikes, such as the Belfast Textile Workers Strike in October 1911 and the workers strike in 1913.
After the death of two strikers during a protest rally on Sackville Street in Dublin James Larkin and James Connolly decided to raise the Irish Citizens Army (ICA) to protect the strikers and themselves against police violence and strong-arm gangs hired by employers.
James Connolly however never considered the Irish Citizens Army (ICA) as a protection army, but as a revolutionary force with only one goal: overthrowing capitalism and imperialism. A Rebel Song, a song written by James Connolly, is a statement of his aims.
Initially the Dublin based Irish Citizens Army (ICA) was armed only with batons, but soon they acquired firearms and ammunitions.
Discontent about postponing the effectuation of the Third Home Rule Bill resulted in increasing support for the Irish Citizens Army (ICA).