James Larkin was born of Irish parents in Liverpool and became a docker. He was a member of the National Union of Dock Labourers, and as an official he went to Scotland where he remained until 1907. He came to Belfast and led a successful dockers' strike which resulted in wage increases and recognition for the union. He became General Secretary of the newly established Irish Transport and General Workers' Union in 1909, was involved with unskilled workers and organised the Dublin workers' strike in 1913, which led to a lock-out by the employers. Larkin was arrested at a protest rally and later imprisoned for a short time. From 1914 to 1923 he was in America, but returned to Ireland and reoccupied his post with the union until his expulsion in 1924 when he formed the Workers' Union of Ireland and became its General Secretary. For two brief periods, 1937-1938 and 1943-1944, he was Dail deputy for North-East Dublin. Sean O'Casey says of him 'Lectures, Concerts and other activities, he brought into Liberty Hall and the social centre he organised in Croydon Park coloured the life of the Dublin workers.' He was a powerful orator. His statue was erected in O'Connell Street in 1979.

Born:	4 February 1874
Died:	30 January 1947