William X. O'Brien
- William X. O'Brien (ITGWU) and William O'Brien (Dominion Home Rule/IPP) were contemporaries in Irish politics early in the 20th century, but should not be confused. For other people of the same name see William O'Brien (disambiguation).
William X. O'Brien (23 January 1881 – 31 October 1968) was a politician and trade unionist in Ireland.
Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, O'Brien moved with his family to Dublin in 1897, and quickly became involved in the Irish Socialist Republican Party (ISRP).[1] O'Brien is described as "a very significant figure in the ISRP" by the historian of the ISRP, David Lynch.[2]
A close friend and associate of James Connolly,[1] O'Brien helped establish the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union in 1909, and was instrumental in the Dublin Lockout strike in 1913.[3]
A member of the Irish Neutrality League, and Anti-Conscription Committee, during the Great War, O'Brien was interned on several occasions by the Dublin Castle government.[4] During one of these instances, he stood in the Stockport by-election, 1920, but was refused a release to campaign in it.
With the formation of the Irish Free State, O'Brien was elected as Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin South at the 1922 general election, and again for Tipperary in June 1927 and again in 1937.
An important figure in the Labour Party in Ireland in its formative days, O'Brien resisted Jim Larkin's attempt to gain control of the Party on release from prison. Taking Larkin to court over his occupation of ITGWU headquarters, the Larkin-O'Brien feud resulted in a split within the labour and trade union movements, and the formation of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.[5]
William Cosgrave while President of the Executive Council of the Free State government notably turned down a plea for asylum in Ireland for Leon Trotsky made by O'Brien. In 1930, Cosgrave told him:[6]
"I could see no reason why Trotsky should be considered by us. Russian bonds had been practically confiscated. He said there was to be consideration of them. I said it was not by Trotsky, whose policy was the reverse. I asked his nationality. Reply Jew. They were against religion (he said that was modified). I said not by Trotsky. He said he had hoped there would be an asylum here as in England for all. I agreed that under normal conditions, which we had not here, that would be all right. But we had no touch with this man or his Government, nor did they interest themselves in us in his 'day'.
Active in politics and the trade union movement into his 60s, O'Brien retired in 1946 and died on 31 October 1968.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Morrissey SJ, Thomas J. (2007). William O’Brien, 1881–1968 - Socialist, republican, Dáil deputy, editor and trade union leader. Four Courts Press. ISBN 9781846820670.
- ^ Lynch, David (2005). Radical Politics in Modern Ireland A History of the Irish Socialist Republican Party 1896-1904. Irish Academic Press Ltd. p. 21. ISBN 9780716533566.
- ^ Yeates, Padraig (2001). Lockout: Dublin 1913. Macmillan. ISBN 0312238908.
- ^ The Irish Citizen Army - history
- ^ SIPTU.ie - History, An Overview
- ^ Keogh, Dermot (1998). Jews in Twentieth-century Ireland: Refugees, Anti-semitism and the Holocaust. Cork University Press. ISBN 9781859181508. http://books.google.com/books?id=ae1vo477tVgC&pg=PA264&dq=%27How+Leon+Trotsky+was+refused+admission+to+the+Irish+Free+State.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael O'Lehane |
President of the Irish Trade Union Congress 1913 |
Succeeded by James Larkin |
| Preceded by Thomas MacPartlin |
President of the Irish Trade Union Congress 1918 |
Succeeded by Thomas Cassidy |
| Preceded by P. T. Daly |
General Secretary of the Irish Trade Union Congress 1918–1920 |
Succeeded by Thomas Ryder Johnson |
| Preceded by James Larkin |
General Secretary of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union 1924–1946 |
Succeeded by Tom Kennedy? |
| Preceded by Luke J. Duffy |
President of the Irish Trade Union Congress 1925 |
Succeeded by Denis Cullen |
| Preceded by Sam Kyle |
President of the Irish Trade Union Congress 1941 |
Succeeded by ? |
This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database
