The Irish Citizen Army (Arm Cathartha na hÉireann in Irish), or ICA, was a small group of trained trade union volunteers established in Dublin during the great strike of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union in 1913, known as the Lockout of 1913. The Lockout caused most of Dublin to come to an economic standstill and was marked by vicious rioting between the strikers and the Dublin Metropolitan Police.

As a result, prominent trade union leaders and socialist activists James Larkin and Jack White established the ICA to help defend Dublin workers in clashes with the police. It also aimed to counteract the demoralising effects of unemployment by providing discipline, cohesion and purpose. Other prominent members of the ICA included famous republicans James Connolly, Seán O’Casey, Constance Markievicz and Francis Sheehy-Skeffington.

ICA membership never exceeded 250 and while its primary purpose ceased after the Easter Rising, it remained in existence until the 1930’s. Many of its members fought in the Irish War of Independence and, subsequently, in the Irish Civil War. The ICA’s last public appearance was to accompany the funeral procession of union leader James Larkin in Dublin in 1947.

The stamp was designed by Ger Garland and features an image of the Irish Citizen Army at Croydon House in Dublin’s (Courtesy of the National Museum of Ireland). The first day cover features an advertisement for the Irish Citizen Army (Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland).

Source: Ireland Post

published July 3rd, 2014