The Big Strike of 1913

Old 1913 Ballad found.

The words of this song were given to Brendan Byrne of the Labour History Society at a SIPTU May Day seminar in Athy by Mary Hoare Walsh. It was composed by local boatmen to commemorate events during the Lockout and came from a local boatman, Thomas McCormack of Allenwood South. He worked on the Barrow and Grand Canal network until the 1960s. The ballad obviously relates to events around the Basin at Guinness’s Brewery in Dublin and on the Grand Canal, which was a major conduit taking shipments of stout down the country. Can anyone help identify the people or incidents referred to?

‘The Big Strike of 1913’

‘Oh! James’s Street did echo to Larkin’s bugle call
And for the rights of Irishmen, we rallied one and all
Those tyrants Tuke and Allen we left in sad array
When they closed the Gates behind us, we struck for higher pay

The mounted and the foot police, did all of us surround
Outside the Gates of James’s Street we boldly stood our ground
We shouted back defiance to that cursed tyrant crew
And closed all around us, the police force was drew

Our gallant leader Larkin, sure he stood by our side
And when we all got out he gazed at us with pride
For to give us a lecture he stepped up on a dray
And we all gathered round him to hear what he might say

Across that silent Harbour his voice rang loud and clear
Caused tyrants for to tremble, and traitors shake with fear
He said: My gallant heroes, today we’ll let them know
If they fight the Dockers’ Union they’ll fight a worthy foe

There was a Boat in Ballinasloe, in Hatch, lay anchored tight
Scabs and traitors formed for to steal her in the night
We watched her through the darkness until the morning clear
When our pickets on the Bog of Moods saw forty-nine appear

We ordered out those cowards and we struck them with surprise
Bill Smyth and Parsons gazed at us with wild and wondering eyes
And to a man named Garry, great credit him is due
For when he heard our warning, it was from the Boat he flew

We will forgive you Garry for you did a noble part
And those that did not follow will be sorry to the heart
It would be better for them, on the roadside to starve and die
Than to bear a cowardly traitor’s name, as Carey did the spy

Fred Kerr was at the helm when she left Lowtown Lock
And when the horse had started off they got a dreadful shock
With the trackline in the water were our gallant heroes true
In a circle all around us those hardy Boatmen drew

There was a man from Gillian, Jim Taylor was his name
Let him be recorded in history’s scroll of fame
He held onto the horse’s head undaunted by the foe
No threats would make young Taylor the bridle reins let go

There was a Sergeant Houlihan with a pistol in his hand
All ready for to fire upon that young unnamed man
With a musket placed against his breast, the cowards saw no fear
In bold and manly Taylor, a boy of tender years

He opened wide his jacket and pointed at his heart
He says, “Come on I’m ready now and I’ve no wish to part
Come send me on that long journey to abide Eternity
And a dreadful swift and just revenge will send you after me”

We won the battle bravely, we’re ready now again
To work for honest labour, without either sword or pen
We’ll rally round the standard of our Union loyal and brave
We’ll defy those cursed tyrants or fill an early grave

Now here’s a health to Larkin, may his memory never die
May the God of Battles guard him, Who rules the earth and sky
May He trample on all tyrants, and His glory bright be seen
Holding high the standard of the Harp above the Green