CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html dir="ltr" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMWorkersControlLemerickSoviet.aspx","20140227031836","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1393471116"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>SRSM - Workers Control Limerick Soviet</title><meta name="Keywords" content="SRSM scottish republican socialist movement IRA irish army limerick soviet ireland scotland currency In January 1919 the Dail - the newly elected Irish assembly- proclaimed independence from Britain. The Irish War of Independence went into full swing. A guerrilla war had begun to spread and many were joining the burgeoning republican movement. Amongst the new recruits was Robert Byrne, a postal worker and active trade unionist in Limerick. "/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20140227031836im_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/documents/favicon.ico"/><meta name="Description" content="What was the Limerick Soviet ? In January 1919 the Dail - the newly elected Irish assembly- proclaimed independence from Britain. The Irish War of Independence went into full swing. A guerrilla war had begun to spread and many were joining the burgeo"/> <link href="/web/20140227031836cs_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/_layouts/15/1033/wh/stylesV2/masterroot.css?rev=sUjFH6Q0nJ5HKum9%2FiZI5w%3D%3D" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/web/20140227031836cs_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/_layouts/15/1033/wh/stylesV2/tables.css?rev=esdZ1ojTEOVKf3w02RW4RA%3D%3D" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/web/20140227031836cs_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/_layouts/15/1033/wh/stylesV2/spxpubc2.css?rev=Zl%2FVKpcdlxw6v2D3XhXtVQ%3D%3D" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/web/20140227031836cs_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/_layouts/15/1033/wh/stylesV2/accessibility.css?rev=HhuN8YGIyOpaCnjN1L4vag%3D%3D" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20140227031836cs_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Resources/theme.css"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20140227031836cs_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Resources/custom.css?lm=634643078412195600"/> <style type="text/css"> </style> </head> <body class="ltr"> <form method="post" action="SRSMWorkersControlLemerickSoviet.aspx" id="aspnetForm"> <div class="aspNetHidden"> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUBMGRk9CctHI19xyPA94AJK/dIhizJRe3/BK2iAAJeh4fK46w="/> </div> <script src="/web/20140227031836js_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/WebResource.axd?d=0jy1UlOosbGeNArK1uriAQ_-iXSuxiyAchP4-IFEvwOPekbWUup5MJobYEAZ26-hV0M3o-1KyreaMQkGCKRZU2BmAsX7WC9-aHKZ41wpmRIgF6wrnbVmQU5pUSpH4EE2faC8EOdr92yobJVdI18mYnui2pP-RKSEIJv-snrsX29Xh-H1vxcW6s3y6HJp9LeIckCli7DX_Zi9QWpqWuorg1tQx_Z-SJnbu4SafWJOsLMx2rfw-BKnlhnq6GPjdqD-03CxIZ72FSu0e7iTIbtIftxq4DL_YTqetzldlWysSP41&t=635283303266824892" type="text/javascript"></script> <div class="s4-notdlg"> <a href="javascript:;" onclick="javascript:this.href='#mainContent';" class="ms-SkiptoMainContent" accesskey="X">Skip to main content</a> </div> <table cellspacing="0" class="MS_MasterFrame" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td id="IWS_WH_Elem_GlobalLinks" class="MS_MasterGlobalLinks"> <div/> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="IWS_WH_Elem_Header" class="MS_MasterHeader"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" height="100%"><tr><td rowspan="2"><img alt="" src="/web/20140227031836im_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/SiteImages/New SRSM Banner 2.jpg"/></td><td width="100%" align="center"><h1 id="IWS_WH_Elem_SiteTitle" class="MSC_HeaderText F_Dark" style="padding:0px;margin:0px"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 18pt; color: rgb(255,255,255); font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: "></span></h1></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><h4 id="IWS_WH_Elem_SiteDescription" class="MSC_HeaderDescription F_Dark"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255,255,255); font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: "></span></h4></td></tr></table> </td> </tr> <tr style="display:none"> <td id="IWS_WH_Elem_TopNav" class="MS_MasterPrimaryNav"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width:100%"> <tr> <td id="IWS_WH_Elem_LeftNav" nowrap="true" class="MS_MasterLeftNav" style="width:150px"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_PrimaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="1"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/default.aspx">Home</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="2"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMSiteSearchBoxPage.aspx">Site Search Box</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="3"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/aboutus.aspx">About Us</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="4"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMDeclarationofAimsandPrinciples.aspx">SRSM Constitution</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="5"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/contactus.aspx">Contact Us</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="6"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMPressReleases.aspx">Press Releases</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame-On" posid="7"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink-On" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMWorkersControl.aspx">Workers Control</a><table style="visibility:visible" id="childFrame7" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame-On"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink-On" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMWorkersControlLemerickSoviet.aspx" parentposid="7">Limerick Soviet</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="8"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMDeclarationofArbroath1320.aspx">1320 Arbroath </a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame8" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMDeclarationofArbroath1320Englishtranslation.aspx" parentposid="8">English Translation</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMDeclarationofArbroath1320GaelicTranslation.aspx" parentposid="8">Gaelic Translation</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMDeclarationofArbroath1320LatinTranslation.aspx" parentposid="8">Latin Translation</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="9"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMArticlesTheVictorsantheVanquished.aspx">1638 Convenanters</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="10"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMTheMassacreofGlencoe.aspx">1692 Glencoe</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="11"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMArticlesDanielDefoe.aspx">1707 Act of Union</a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame11" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSM1707MembersoftheLastScottishParliament.aspx" parentposid="11">Last Scottish Parliament</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMBoughta.aspx" parentposid="11">English Gold</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="12"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/ClanshipCDuthchasCullodenThePreludetoClearance.aspx">Highland Clearances</a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame12" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMColonialismClearanceTheHighlandCondition17501820.aspx" parentposid="12">Colonialism & Clearance</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMTheDawnofRepublicanism.aspx" parentposid="12">Republicanism</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="13"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSM.aspx">1797 Insurrection</a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame13" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMTheUnitedScotsmen.aspx" parentposid="13">The United Scotsmen</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="14"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMThe1820Radicals.aspx">1820 Radicals</a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame14" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSM1820RadicalRebellion.aspx" parentposid="14">Radical Rebellion</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMArticlesJamesWilson1820Martyr.aspx" parentposid="14">James Wilson</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSM1820AlexanderRodgerSawneyNowTheKingsCome.aspx" parentposid="14">Alexander Rodger </a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMArticlesSixStrikerswhowoveaLegend.aspx" parentposid="14">Calton Weavers</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="15"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMRobertBurnsFromJacobitetoJacobin.aspx">Robert Burns</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="16"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMThomasMuirofHuntershill.aspx">Thomas Muir</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="17"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMJohnMacLeanScottishRepublicanSocialist.aspx">John MacLean</a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame17" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMJohnMacLeanPictureReference.aspx" parentposid="17">Picture Gallery</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMJohnMacLeanDocumentDownloads.aspx" parentposid="17"> Documents</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMJohnMacLeanLifeinPrison.aspx" parentposid="17">Life in Prison</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMArticlesJohnMacLeanandConspiracies.aspx" parentposid="17">MacLean Conspiracies</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMJohnMacLeanSociety.aspx" parentposid="17">John MacLean Society</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMPoemAWelcomeHomeToJohnMacLean.aspx" parentposid="17">John MacLean Poem</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="18"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMAPGArmyoftheProvisionalGovernmentandtheTartanArmy.aspx">APG - The Tartan Army</a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame18" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMAPGPictures.aspx" parentposid="18">APG Pictures</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="19"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMWhoKilledWillieMacRae.aspx">Willie MacRae</a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame19" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMWillieMacRaePressArticlesandClippings.aspx" parentposid="19">Press Articles</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMWillieMacRaeCrimeScene.aspx" parentposid="19">Crime Scene</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMWillieMacRaeTheInvisibleGunRevisited.aspx" parentposid="19">20 Years Later</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="20"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMArchivesLibrary.aspx">Archives Library</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="21"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMArticles.aspx">Articles Library</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="22"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMMemoriam.aspx">Memoriam</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="23"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMEvents.aspx">Events</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="24"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMGallery1.aspx">Gallery 1</a><table style="visibility:hidden;display:none" id="childFrame24" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MSC_SecondaryNavFrame"><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMGallery2.aspx" parentposid="24">Gallery 2</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_SecondaryNavLinkFrame"><a class="MSC_SecondaryNavLink" type="2" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMGallery3.aspx" parentposid="24">Gallery 3</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavLinkFrame" posid="25"><a class="MSC_PrimaryNavLink" type="1" href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMSongbook.aspx">Song book</a></td></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavTopSpace"/></tr><tr><td class="MSC_PrimaryNavBottomSpace"/></tr></table> </td> <td class="MS_MasterBody"> <a name="mainContent"></a> <div id="IWS_WH_Elem_Content" class="MSC_Body"> <div id="IWS_WH_ZoneRowContainer"><table class="MS_WH_ZoneRow"><tbody><tr><td style="WIDTH: 1%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" class="MS_WH_ZoneSpacing"/><td valign="top" style="WIDTH: 92%" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><div class="MS_WH_ZoneContent"><div align="center" id="General_Content"><img src="/web/20140227031836im_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/siteimages/tx%20144.jpg" alt=""/></div><div align="center">聽</div><div align="left"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial", "sans-serif"; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><a href="/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/SiteImages/limerick%20soviet.jpg"><img src="/web/20140227031836im_/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/siteimages/limerick%20soviet.jpg" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 1px solid; MARGIN: 12px 12px 12px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid" title="The Limerick Soviet" alt="The Limerick Soviet"/></a>In January 1919 the Dail - the newly elected Irish assembly- proclaimed independence from Britain. The Irish War of Independence went into full swing. A guerrilla war had begun to spread and many were joining the burgeoning republican movement. Amongst the new recruits was Robert Byrne, a postal worker and active trade unionist in Limerick.<br/><br/>When his allegiances became known Byrne was sacked by his employer. The authorities also searched his house. A pistol was found -it could have been planted- and Byrne was arrested and put in prison. There Byrne went on hunger strike and lost consciousness. So he was moved and kept under police guard at St Camillus's Hospital.</span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial", "sans-serif"; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><br/>The IRA resolved to liberate him. In the subsequent rescue attempt, staged on 6 April 1919, a constable Martin O'Brien was shot dead. Byrne himself was seriously injured and though he escaped he died soon after. Some 20,000 attended his funeral.<br/><br/>In response to these events the British Government declared on 9 April that the city was a special military area. The city had effectively been placed under martial law. Troops and tanks were on the streets and, as of Monday 14 April, those entering or leaving the city had to have special permits from the Royal Irish Constabulary. The city's United Trades and Labour Council, on which Byrne had been a delegate, had already responded on the 13th by calling a General Strike. <br/><br/>The Strike was to be co-ordinated by a special Workers Committee. What became known as the "Limerick Soviet" was up and running. It was under the auspices of the Committee that newspapers were published, food distribution was organised and later on -when finances ran short- that a new paper currency was printed.<br/><br/>Workers were effectively running the city, putting people's needs before profit. Even some soldiers were sympathetic. Harney (2009) says a Scottish regiment allowed many local workers past without asking them to show their permits. When the British Government found out the regiment was sent home and replaced with a more repressive one.<br/><br/>But after two weeks the backing of the trades unions -many of whom were still linked to the British TUC- and also that of the church locally began to wane. There was pressure to negotiate.<br/><br/>Negotiations led to martial law being lifted in return for the Committee issuing a proclamation -which it did on April 27, 1919- that the strike was over. The Limerick Soviet had shown though, however fleetingly, the potential for workers' self organisation under which real democracy can flourish.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Arial", "sans-serif""><p/></span></p></div><div>聽</div><div>聽</div><div><span id="ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl1" xmlns:iws="iws" style="display:inline-block;height:14px;width:302px;float:none;margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left;overflow:hidden;display:inline-block;"><input onclick="submitform('ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl1', '\x3cform id\x3d\x22ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl1_form\x22 action\x3d\x22\x22\x3e\x3c\x2fform\x3e'); return false;" type="image" style="display:none !important;"><xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version="1.0"> <xsl:output method="html" omit-xml-declaration="yes"/> <xsl:template match="/"> <div id="adLoader"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836js_/http://feedjit.com/serve/?vv=538&tft=3&dd=0&wid=58c0ec05ea054ef8&pid=0&proid=0&bc=FFFFFF&tc=000000&brd1=012B6B&lnk=135D9E&hc=FFFFFF&hfc=2853A8&btn=C99700&ww=160"></script><noscript> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836/http://feedjit.com/">Feedjit Live Blog Stats</a></noscript> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var Nav = document.getElementById('IWS_WH_Elem_LeftNav'); Nav.appendChild(document.getElementById('adLoader')); </script> </xsl:template> </xsl:stylesheet> </span></div><div>聽</div><div><span id="ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl2" xmlns:iws="iws" style="float:none;margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left;display:inline-block;"><input onclick="submitform('ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl2', '\x3cform id\x3d\x22ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl2_form\x22 action\x3d\x22\x22\x3e\x3c\x2fform\x3e'); return false;" type="image" style="display:none !important;"><div id="xxxx"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836js_/http://jj.revolvermaps.com/m.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">rmm_ki101('0',130,'9zvis6lgngg','ff0000');</script> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var left = document.getElementById('IWS_WH_Elem_LeftNav'); left.appendChild(document.getElementById('xxxx')); </script></span></div><div>聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 <span id="ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl3" xmlns:iws="iws" style="float:none;margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left;display:inline-block;"><input onclick="submitform('ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl3', '\x3cform id\x3d\x22ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl3_form\x22 action\x3d\x22\x22\x3e\x3c\x2fform\x3e'); return false;" type="image" style="display:none !important;"><span class="st_twitter_large"></span><span class="st_facebook_large"></span><span class="st_email_large"></span><span class="st_sharethis_large"></span></span></div><div>聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 <span id="ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl4" xmlns:iws="iws" style="float:none;margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left;display:inline-block;"><input onclick="submitform('ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl4', '\x3cform id\x3d\x22ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_PayPalControl4_form\x22 action\x3d\x22\x22\x3e\x3c\x2fform\x3e'); return false;" type="image" style="display:none !important;"><script type="text/javascript">var switchTo5x=false;</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836js_/http://w.sharethis.com/button/buttons.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">stLight.options({publisher:'c68a55a8-bf40-4d2a-9145-d4038fcdd833'});</script></span></div></div></td><td style="WIDTH: 7%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" class="MS_WH_ZoneSpacing"/></tr></tbody></table></div> </div> </td> </tr></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="IWS_WH_Elem_Footer" colspan="2" class="MS_MasterFooter"> <div class="MSC_FooterFrame"> <span id="IWS_WH_Elem_FooterLinks"> <b><a class="MSC_FooterLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMLinks.aspx"> Links </a></b><span class="MSC_FooterLinkSpacer">|</span><b><a class="MSC_FooterLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMPressReleases.aspx"> Press Releases </a></b><span class="MSC_FooterLinkSpacer">|</span><b><a class="MSC_FooterLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMWeb.aspx"> Weblogs </a></b><span class="MSC_FooterLinkSpacer">|</span><b><a class="MSC_FooterLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836/http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/contactus.aspx"> Contact Us </a></b><span class="MSC_FooterLinkSpacer">|</span><b><a class="MSC_FooterLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140227031836/http://scottishrepublicans.myfreeforum.org/index.php?sid=4db7d780214fa72911748389e7cf8443"> Forum </a></b> </span> <div id="IWS_WH_Elem_FooterText" class="MSC_FooterText"> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: ">SRSM P.O. BOX 16887 GLASGOW G11 9EP SCOTLAND</span> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </form>  </body> </html>