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Blackrock Society Talks – Updated 9/9/2024

Blackrock Society “Scientia Sit Liberalis”
Blackrock Dolmen by Rowan Gillespie
Rowan Gillespie’s Dolmen (1987) at N11/Temple Rd junction

FORTHCOMING LECTURES & ACTIVITIES – Spring 2024 onwards

Monday 16th September 2024

The Munitions Strike of 1920 – How Dockers and Rail Workers Defied an Empire

By Padraig Yeates (Journalist & Author)

Padraig will introduce us to an aspect of Irish history that many may well be unfamiliar with, yet played a major role in the push for Irish independence. The Munitions Strike of May to December 1920 on the railways in Ireland started when railway workers placed an embargo on the transportation of British military forces and munitions. The strike initiative had initially arisen in England after London dockers refused to load a ship with munitions for Poland’s war on Russia which had become the Soviet state.

Padraig will explain the rationale behind the strike, show how this sudden display of passive resistance severely disrupted British attempts to put down the burgeoning Irish revolt, badly set back British military actions here, and left the British administration in Ireland in a humiliating and discreditable position.

He will further elaborate on how the strike which lasted seven months struck a major peaceful blow for Irish independence by helping the British begin to come to the realisation that Ireland might be a more ungovernable proposition than they could afford to persist with.

Padraig is a journalist and the author of a number of books including the Dublin quartet: Lockout: Dublin 1913, A City in Wartime: Dublin 1914–18, A City in Turmoil: Dublin 1919–21 and A City in Civil War: Dublin 1921–24 among others. He is also Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Contemporary Irish History in Trinity College Dublin.  

See further details of future, current and previous lectures for 2024,’23,’22,’20 and 2019 HERE

The October talk will on Monday the 14th and will be given by Tom Ferris on the life and career of Niamh Bhreathnach – From Blackrock to Reforming Minister

Please note there is an attendance charge of €5 for non-members of Blackrock Society

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Further talks and lectures for the Autumn/Winter of 2024 and Spring of 2025 will be confirmed shortly and this site will be updated. If you are interested in giving a talk, please contact Douglas by email at info at blackrocksociety.ie

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All lectures are at 8.00pm and are held in
COMHALTAS CEOLTÓIRÍ ÉIREANN, (See Map)
 32 BELGRAVE SQUARE
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CO. DUBLIN A94XV02
Blackrock Society was established in 1921 and is supported by local businesses and is a Member of the Federation of Local History Societies.

Blackrock Society – Aims

Blackrock Main St at the turn of the 19th century

The aims of Blackrock Society are to:

To create an awareness of the history, culture, science and literary contributions, architecture, people and, indeed, the peculiarities of the County Dublin town of Blackrock, together with its surrounds, thus adding to the local community’s sense of itself.

To help preserve the unique character of Blackrock from diffusion or loss.

To record details of events, both local and national, consider their impact, and disseminate them through lectures and visits.

To publish an annual illustrated journal of our activities including lectures, discussions and trips.

We have been endeavouring to promote these aims from our inception in 1921.

Want to join Blackrock Society? Then please click here to download our membership form