DUBLIN.- To mark the 100th anniversary of the Dublin Lockout of 1913, Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts Heritage and Gaeltacht opened three new exhibitions, 1913 Lockout: Impact & Aftermath, Banners Unfurled and Lockout: The Tapestry, at the National Museum of Ireland.

The exhibition 1913 Lockout: Impact & Aftermath draws on objects from the Museum’s own collections to tell the story of the Lockout. It documents life in Dublin in 1913, the key players and events surrounding the Lockout and its aftermath as well as the formation of the Citizen Army, the women’s suffrage movement and the rise of trade unions. Central to the exhibition is the original Starry Plough flag which made its first appearance with the Irish Citizen Army in April 1914 in Dublin. The flag then flew over the Imperial Hotel on O’Connell Street during the 1916 Rising. It is being displayed here for the first time in 25 years after recent conservation funded by the members of the Labour Party. The exhibition also includes the Larkin Banner, on loan from the Irish Labour History Society. This exhibition runs until the end of June, 2014.

At the same time, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ 1913 Commemoration Committee is hosting two temporary exhibitions at Collins Barracks. The first, entitled Banners Unfurled consists of replicas of 18 guild and trade union banners. The second, Lockout - the Tapestry displays the tapestry commissioned in 2012 by SIPTU and the National College of Art and Design from artists Kathy Henderson and Robert Ballagh. The 30-panel tapestry, creating a visual narrative of the 1913 Lockout, was made by voluntary groups and their work. Banners Unfurled and Lockout – The Tapestry is on display until 14th November, 2013.

Minister Jimmy Deenihan commented: “The 1913 Lockout was a moment of great importance in Irish history. It was also a very significant milestone in that momentous decade (1912 to 1922) which saw Ireland move through the Home Rule crisis and the Lockout to the 1916 Rising and, eventually, the establishment of the Irish State. I look forward to working with the National Museum, and all the cultural institutions, on commemorations of the landmark events in Irish history that took place during that momentous decade.”

Speaking at the event Joe O’Flynn, Chairperson of Congress’s 1913 Lockout Commemoration Committee, said today’s trade union movement needed to complete the task which commenced in 1913.

“James Larkin and the thousands of working men and women who were involved in the 1913 Lockout were focused on achieving decent treatment and fairness at work and, ultimately, social justice and equality. Critical to the events of 100 years ago was the right of workers to organise through their union and to collectively bargain with their employers. This is an issue that has yet to be resolved, along with the timeless pursuit of decent work, social justice and equality. It’s important that we, in this generation, pledge ourselves to complete the campaign started by our forebears 100 years ago,”

Commenting on the exhibitions, Raghnall Ó Floinn, Director of the National Museum said “We are delighted to present this suite of exhibitions to commemorate the events of the Dublin Lockout. It represents collaboration with external partners including the 1913 Committee and SIPTU. I would like to acknowledge in particular financial support from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.”