Council to erect James Connolly plaque

Dublin City Council have agreed to a proposal to erect a commemorative plaque in The Liberties to honour James Connolly.

The proposal was made by Councillor Ciarán Ó Meachair of Sinn Féin to Dublin City Council’s Commemorations and Naming Committee, and the specific wording of the plaque will focus on the fact that James Connolly edited and printed The Worker’s Republic newspaper from his home at Pimlico.

The site of Pimlico Flats in The Liberties now occupies where James Connolly lived with his wife and three children at 54 Pimlico.

The DCC Commemorative Plaque scheme has been running since 2014, however this will only be the second plaque unveiled in The Liberties, the only other unveiled in 2016 commemorates the Marrowbone Lane Garrisson from the Easter Rising.

Commenting on the approval, Councillor Ó Meachair said, “I’m delighted this proposal has been approved. James Connolly is a hugely important figure in our national history. There are still many lessons that could be taken from his writings today.”

The Sinn Féin councillor said, “it’s always important at Easter to remember the sacrifice made by people like Connolly for Irish freedom.”

“James Connolly was also a strong voice for workers’ rights and women’s rights. He challenged many of the inequalities we still see in the world today.”

“There is also an unfortunate lack of commemorative plaques in The Liberties compared to other parts of the city, which is surprising considering The Liberties is such an historical part of Dublin. I hope something like this will also encourage people in The Liberties to think of other suitable plaques for the area”.

James Connolly filled out the 1901 census while living at 54 Pimilco where he described himself as a ‘printer-compositor’. Six other families, a total of 30 people, also lived at the same address.

The Worker’s Republic newspaper, which Connolly published from 54 Pimlico, lasted from 1898 to 1903. Connolly later printed a second version of The Worker’s Republic from 1915 right up until the 1916 Rising.

Plaque Wording:

“The Workers Republic

Newspaper Edited and Published by James Connolly here at 54 Pimlico”