President presented with copy of Book recording 1913 Lockout events in Dun Laoghaire (Kingstown)

Mike Lee (left) of Dun Laoghaire 1913 Committee presents copy of the book produced to tell the story of the great Dublin Lockout in Kingstown (as it was then known) to President Michael D Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain on Friday, April 4th, 2014. During the Lockout local Irish Transport and General Workers’ Branch Secretary James Byrne died.

The photograph on the right is thought to be of the funeral of James Byrne, who was buried on 4 November. He had died of pneumonia, having contracted it in custody on hunger and thirst strike, after being arrested on 20 October  for alleged intimidation of a labourer at Heiton’s coal depot. He claimed he had been framed. Over three thousand workers marched to Deans Grange cemetery to bury Byrne in an unmarked grave. James Connolly gave the funeral oration.

He said Byrne had been murdered, ‘As surely as any of the long list of those who had suffered for the sacred cause of liberty. The police vultures and master vultures were not content until they had got Byrne into prison. He had been thrown into a cold, damp, mouldy cell, but so contemptuous was he of those who put him there, that he refused food and drink. If their murdered comrade could send them a message it would be to go on with the fight.’