Plaques honour Labour leader

THE Kilmainham
and Inchicore Heritage Group unveiled two plaques recently to honour one of the
giants of Ireland’s labour movement.

The ceremony
took place at Emmet Hall, 122 Emmet Road where Jim Larkin, founder of the Irish
Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU) based its activities in 1913.

Larkin
appointed William Partridge as manager of Emmet Hall in 1913 where ITGWU
meetings were held.

From the hall
Larkin travelled extensively around Ireland organising ITGWU gatherings.

After the
failure of the General Strike in 1913, Partridge was instrumental in setting up
the Irish Citizen Army. In the 1916 Rising he fought in the College of
Surgeons. Arrested and sent to Lewes
Prison, his health deteriorated and he died soon after his release in 1917.

James Connolly
nominated Michael Mallin as Chief-of-Staff of the Irish Citizen Army in 1914
and the volunteers practised and drilled in the hall until 1916.

In 1915 the
Mallin Family moved into the premises and lived above the hall. In 1916, as
James Connolly fought in the GPO, the main command of the ICA devolved to
Michael Mallin at the Royal College of Surgeons at St Stephen’s Green. When the
Rebellion ended Mallin was captured, tried by court-martial and executed on May
8, 1916 in Kilmainham Gaol.

He was survived
by his wife Agnes Hickey, his three sons and two daughters, all of whom
continued to live at the same premises for several years afterwards.

Speakers at the
unveiling included Jack O’Connor, President of SIPTU; TDs Eamon O’ Cuiv, Aengus
O’ Snodaigh, Michael Conaghan, Catherine Byrne, and Joan Collins; Padraig
Yeates, author and historian and members of the Mallin family.

“The heritage
group regards the erection of these plaques on this premises as long overdue,

?
a spokesperson for the Kilmainham and Inchicore Heritage Group said.

“We see it
as the commencement of ceremonies marking the run up to the 1913 Lockout.

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