Woven into history - the story of the 1913 Lockout

Jim Larkin in one of the tapestries

One of the tapestries

Jim Larkin at a rally in Manchester

The Arrest of Jim Larkin - a tapestry on the lockout

thumbnail: Jim Larkin in one of the tapestries
thumbnail: One of the tapestries
thumbnail: Jim Larkin at a rally in Manchester
thumbnail: The Arrest of Jim Larkin - a tapestry on the lockout
Anna Coogan

THE dramatic story of the 1913 Lockout has been captured in 30 giant and colourful tapestries.

The tapestries were designed by artists Robert Ballagh and Cathy Henderson, but it was the skillful needle work of 180 adults and dozens of school children over a whole year which created the final display.

Members of the Irish Embroidery Guild and Irish Patchwork Society gave their time for free every Tuesday evening for 12 months to bring the SIPTU-organised art work to life.

Students from a number of primary schools in Dublin's city centre were also involved, including Sancta Maria CBS on Synge Street, St Brigid's National School in The Coombe, and Scoil na mBrathar on Francis Street.

The idea of marking the hundredth anniversary of the Lockout with a series of vibrant tapestries was inspired by the Prestonpans Tapestry in Scotland, which tells of the journey Bonnie Prince Charlie made from France to battle and victory at Prestonpans. All 30 tapestries will be on show at the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum in Easter 2014.

Meanwhile, selected tapestries are on show in Liberty Hall, in the Abbey Theatre, and the National Maritime Museum.

The story of the making of the tapestries is also told in a book, 'The Making of the Great 1913 Lockout Tapestry', which is available from SIPTU.