Townremembers the1911Lockout

A wreath was laid by the Mayor Frank Staples at the Lockout Gate in the Faythe at the annual and predictably wet and windy May Day ceremony which was attended by members of the former 1911 committee over the past weekend.

Committee members Helen Corish, Susan Kelly, Simon Kirwan, David Morris and Michael Wall were among those who collectively put together the program of events that commemorated the century of the 1911 Lockout and the unveiling of the sculpture in the Faythe - a chained gate with an archway depicting workers - designed by artist Peter Hodnett

Also in attendance was Joe Thomas, the chairperson and several members of the Wexford Trades Council.

In his address, the mayor described the events that autumn in Wexford when workers were locked out of their jobs and families endured nearly six months of terrible deprivation for wanting to join a union of their choice.

This struggle involved iconic leaders like Larkin, Connolly and Daley and Wexford’s own Richard Corish , who went on to become a Labour TD and the longest serving Mayor in the country.

Independent Councillor Davy Hynes, the former chair of the 1911 committee, talked of the continuing relevance of trade unions in today’s Ireland, saying that workers’ rights are under sustained attack by some employers ‘in a relentless drive to the bottom’.

‘I was pleased to be able to inform the gathering that the council intended over the coming months to erect a plaque as a fitting tribute to the artist and sculptor Peter Hodnett who designed the Lockout gate and who sadly passed away before his time a few years ago,’ said Davy.

Mayor of Wexford Cllr Frank Staples, Cllr Ger Carthy and Cllr Davy Hynes lead the annual commemoration and wreath laying at the Lock Out Gate at the Faythe.

Mayor of Wexford Cllr Frank Staples speaking at the commemoration.