Limerick Soviet

In the midst of the Irish War of Independence and the more general wave of revolutions of 1917-23, the Limerick Soviet ("Sóivéid Luimnigh") was founded on April 15 1919 by the Limerick Trades and Labour Council, as a protest against the declaration of a "Special Military Area" under the Defence of the Realm Act which covered of most of Limerick city and a part of the county. Special permits, to be issued by the Royal Irish Constabulary, would now be required to enter the city.

The response was a general strike and boycott of the troops. A special strike committee was set up to print their own money and control food prices and published newspapers. The Dublin based media dubbed the strike the "Limerick Soviet".

Following negotiations and pressure applied by the local church, the Strike Committee issued a proclamation on April 27 1919 stating that the strike was at an end. The Special Military Area was also ended in return.

ee also

*History of Limerick
*Dublin Lockout
*Conscription Crisis of 1918
*Dáil Éireann (1919-1922)
*Irish War of Independence
*Revolutions of 1917-23
*Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
*Irish Congress of Trade Unions
*Communist Ireland
*Communist Party of Ireland
*Condensed Milk Company of Ireland

External links

* [http://www.limericksoviet.com/ The Limerick Soviet, 1919, Liam Cahill]
* [http://www.sonic.net/~figgins/generalstrike/europe/ireland.html General Strikes in Ireland]
* [http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/talks/limerick.html Limerick Soviet, Aileen O'Carroll 1994]