Commemoration of the Irish Citizen Army March 22nd Liberty Hall, Dublin, 3pm
The formation of the Irish Citizen Army was a direct result of the 1913 Lockout but it was not until March 22nd, 1914, that it ceased to be ‘an airy nothing’, as Sean 
O’Casey put it, and ‘began to forge its way into the stormy centre of Irish politics’. On that day the members voted to adopt a Constitution, elect an Army Council and agreed to rules and regulations that transformed the aspirations of its members into a programme of action.
The Constitution was short and to the point:
- That the first and last principle of the Irish Citizen Army is the avowal that the ownership of Ireland, moral and material, is vested of right in the people of Ireland.
- That the Irish Citizen Army shall stand for the absolute unity of Irish nationhood, and shall support the rights and liberties of the democracies of all nations.
- That one of its objects shall be to sink all differences of birth, property and creed under the common name of Irish people.
- That the Irish Citizen Army shall be open to all who accept the principle of equal rights and opportunities for the Irish people.
- Before being enrolled, every applicant must, if eligible, be a member of his trade union, such union to be recognised by the Irish Trade Union Congress.*
*This last point was added to O’Casey’s draft on the suggestion of Jim Larkin, who chaired the meeting. It was formally proposed by Countess Markievicz and seconded by Thomas Healy.
Some things change and some things remain the same – Fighting for Fairness at Work and Justice in Society are slogans as relevant today as they were in 1914
This coming Saturday, March 22nd, there will be a Commemoration at Liberty Hall 3 pm to 4 pm including an Event by ANU Productions, Music by Des Geraghty and Friends, a Lecture on Foundation of the ICA by Ann Matthews and much more.
Admission Free
