Irish Citizen Army

The Irish Citizen Army (ICA - Irish Citizen Army, Irish arm na hÉireann Cathartha ) was a small group of volunteers in Dublin to protect the rights of the workers. The ICA was during the general strike (also called Dublin Lockout ) in 1913 founded the Irish Transport and General Workers ' Union ( Irish Transport and General Trade Union ). Due to the strike workers tried the union, which was founded by James Larkin to establish. The strike began when the employer William Martin Murphy locked out in 1913, some union members from work. In the end, 400 employees and 25,000 workers were on strike, which led to a six -month economic standstill in almost all of Dublin. At the end opposite the workers, drawn by hunger, beaten at their jobs back.

This defeat and the harsh treatment of the strikers by the Dublin Metropolitan Police led James Connolly and others to the view that it was necessary to organize the workers to defend. The founders of the army were Jack White (a former captain in the British Army), James Larkin ( a leader of the workers) and the socialist James Connolly, who believed in the physical violence. Other active members were Sean O'Casey, Countess Markievicz and Michael Mallin.

The Irish Citizen Army was ultimately to James Connolly's private army of well-trained Socialists. Captain Jack White was responsible for training the army. This group was one of the first who were able to join both men and women - everyone was trained in the handling of weapons. The ICA had their locations around the Liberty Hall.

The ICA were never more than 250 followers. On Monday, April 24, 1916, marched during the Easter Rising only 220 people at the much larger group of Irish Volunteers page. They helped the General Post Office in Dublin on O'Connell Street (then Sackville Street) to take over. Connolly was a few weeks later executed by the British Army. The remaining members of the ICA in 1919 merged with the Irish Volunteers, to establish the IRA.

The uniforms of the Irish Citizen Army was dark green with a slanted seated hat. Since many members could not afford uniforms, these wore a blue bracelet - in contrast to the red tape of the officers.

On the green banner of the ICA a plow was imaged with the stars of Ursa Maior ( " The Plough and Stars ," "the Starry Plough "). This flag was hoisted at the 1916 Easter Rising. In the 1930s, the flag was changed to white stars on a blue background.