First talk in series to address conscription protests of 1918

THE first in the series of winter and spring lectures of the Wicklow Historical Society will feature Labour historian Charles Callan discussing ‘The Conscription threat of 1918 in Wicklow’.

The talk will provide a general overview of events in the county and a more detailed account of what transpired in Wicklow town.

In the spring of 1918, as the war entered its final phase, with a massive German offensive on the Western Front, conscription in Britain was extended to include older men.

The Government came under pressure to extend conscription to Ireland and announced that it would be following the British lead. This led to massive protests throughout the country, including County Wicklow, where huge protests were held in most of the towns.

In Wicklow town, where an anti-conscription protest on April 17 filled Market Square and Main Street, there were sharp divisions between nationalist and unionist members of the Urban Council.

When some of the unionist businessmen in the town who were members of the Urban Council refused to support a motion condemning the Government’s conscription plans, their businesses were boycotted, and trade unionists, including dock labourers, refused to handle their goods and raw materials.

Mr Callan is a retired public servant and a widely-published labour historian. His many articles on Irish Labour History have appeared in a range of publications.

The talk will be held in St Patrick’s Parochial Centre, Wicklow, at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 22. All are welcome to attend. There is no admission charge but a box will be available for those who wish to make a voluntary contribution.