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.

A British Spy at James’s Gate

As the countdown to ‘Arthur’s Day’ continues, we take a look at the man that Diageo would like us to celebrate.

‘The Union Star’ was a militantly republican newspaper published by the United Irishmen in Dublin. The paper specialised in publishing the details of British spies, informers and other traitors operating in the capital.

Included in one recently unearthed edition from 1798, is the following very interesting entry:

 

‘Guinness- a brewer at James’s- gate, an active spy. United Irishmen will be cautious of dealing with any publican that sells his drink.’

 

The United Irishmen had reason to believe that Arthur Guinness, the ‘land agent’ come famous brewer, was a British spy. They further warned that republicans should be wary of any publican that did business with him, knowing that an informers work could be made much easier by 'pub talk' and the consumption of alcohol.

While we may never know exactly what role Arthur Guinness played on behalf of the British State in Ireland, we do know that the Guinness family have long been pro- British Loyalists, what would later become known as ‘Irish Unionists’. We also know that Arthur Guinness was ‘directly opposed to any movement towards Irish Independence’.

 It has always been known that he was hostile to the radical and progressive vision of the United Irishmen, and that openly he condemned the 1798 Rebellion. It now appears that not only was he opposed to Irish independence, he was actively working against it, gathering information on Dublin based revolutionaries on behalf of the British administration.

So if your raising a glass to Arthur this September 26, remember you will be toasting a man that the United Irishmen believed was an active British spy, who worked to undermine any possibility of Irish Independence.

To Arthur?

 I don’t think so.

Our Fighting Story!

From the United Irishmen to the Fenians, from the Irish Citizen Army to the Republican Congress, Dublin South Central has a rich radical republican and socialist history.

Across Ballyfermot and Crumlin, the Liberties, Inchicore and Bluebell the streets of Dublin South Central are bursting with the heroic deeds of local republicans and socialists. Strikes, bombs, ammunition raids, gun battles, open warfare and the popular involvement of the community, every area has its own story to tell. We hope this blog can play a small part in putting our community back in touch with our revolutionary history and teach a new generation of its role in Ireland's fight for freedom.

Through songs and stories, pictures, the personal accounts of those who took part and historical and contemporary articles, we hope to bring that history to life so as it can be appreciated by the local community.

We welcome articles and stories relevant to the republican and socialist history of Dublin South Central. Anyone who would like to contribute can forward an email to Dscfightingstory@gmail.com