The Irish Citizen Army and Dublin South Central

The establishment of the Irish Citizen Army was a majorly important event in the history of Ireland.

Born as a workers defence militia in 1913 during the heat of class war in Dublin, the Citizen Army soon became a highly effective force dedicated to winning national liberation and socialism in Ireland.

The Citizen Army, under the leadership of James Connolly was one of the driving forces in the 1916 Rising. It can be strongly argued that the Rising would not have taken place without the Citizen Army.

Dublin South Central was home to a strong detachment of the Citizen Army, covering the areas from Inchicore to Crumlin. The section was under the command of Michael Mallin and had it's headquarters at Emmett Hall, Emmett road in Inchicore. Many local Army Volunteers worked in the nearby railway works and the Army was very well organised in the local area.

The local Citizen Army have a proud history, playing a key role in events leading up to the Rising and during the fighting of Easter week. Many local Citizen Army veterans continued to play an active role in the republican movement in the aftermath of 1916 and were a driving force in the establishment of highly successful local IRA unit, F Company, 4th Battalion Dublin Brigade.

In the coming weeks we will publish a number of  original articles highlighting the role of the Citizen Army in the radical history of Dublin South Central's Fighting Story.

Check back soon for more details.