James Byrne Commemoration

dublin | anti-capitalism | event notice Tuesday October 28, 2003 11:04 by pat c

James Byrne Commemoration Committee

1st November 2003-09-11 Monument Unveiling & 90th Anniversary Commemoration

Assemble 2pm Main Entrance Deansgrange Cemetery, Deansgrange, Co. Dublin, Ireland. The newly-commissioned monument over the grave of Trade Union Martyr, James Byrne, District Organiser, ITG&WU, who died on 1st November 1913 following a hunger & thirst strike during the Great Lock-Out 1913 will be unveiled by Des Geraghty, President, SIPTU. All trade unionists, political activists and members of the Public welcome!

[No Party Political Banners, please!]
(This is a request of the organisers. pc)

The James Byrne Commemoration Committee has organised the erection of a fitting memorial over the grave in Deansgrange Cemetery [Co.Dublin, Ireland] of James Byrne, a trade union martyr who died on 1st November 1913 as a result of the effects of a hunger and thirst strike during imprisonment for his role in the Great Lock-Out of that year. James was District Organiser of the Irish Transport & General Workers Union and held leadership roles in both Bray and Kingstown [Dún Laoghaire] Trades Councils.

In the course of James Byrne's funeral oration James Connolly said: "James Byrne truly died a martyr as any man who ever died for Ireland".

The Committee believes that the monument is a fitting tribute to James Byrne and hopes that his grave may become a place of pilgrimage and source of inspiration for trade unionists and socialists in the future. We are particularly pleased that the descendents of James Byrne are fully supportive of the work of the Committee.

Jason Mc Lean, PRO - James Byrne Commemoration Committee.