The 1913 Lockout raised all sorts of subsidiary political and social tensions in Dublin in addition to the no-holds-barred confrontation between James Larkin’s transport union and William Martin Murphy’s employers’ confederation. One flashpoint arose over plans by English trade unionists and well-wishers to bring some children of unemployed workers, who were facing severe hunger, to English homes for the duration of the dispute. As the plan went into action, so did its opponents, as this report, one of several on the day, recorded.
AS A preliminary to embarking for England, a large body of children – some fifty boys and girls – were brought to Tara St Baths early yesterday morning to be washed and newly clothed for their journey by the afternoon boat. They were in [the] charge of ladies who have been prominently identified with the movement.
When the children had entered the building, word of the nature of the visit went round, and a fairly large crowd assembled in the street outside. Intimation was conveyed to the Presbytery of St Andrew’s Parish, Westland row, and Rev Father Landers, Rev Father Fleming, and Rev Father Hatton, priests of the parish, proceeded without delay to the Baths. Here they found a good deal of excitement prevailing, many women appearing to now object to the sending away of their children. The clergymen proceeded to interview the children as they emerged from the Baths. They elicited from the boys the frank admission that they were no lovers of the scheme to leave their homes.
Father Fleming and Father McNevin remained at the Baths. They found the parents in a considerable state of doubt as to the proper course to adopt. Many expressed themselves as being now unwilling that their children should go, but others appeared to still look to Liberty Hall and its English co-operators for guidance. The general demeanour of the people outside the Baths while these proceedings were being enacted was such as to suggest that considerable hostility is developing, even among the workers, to the scheme of deportation.
Mrs Montefiore, the English lady prominently identified with the scheme, was on the scene at this juncture, and Father Landers expressed to her his protest against the action taken in reference to the children. Mrs Montefiore replied that she would give every security for the Faith of the children, and their bringing up. Father Landers, who was cheered by the crowd outside the Baths, said he was sorry that he could not accept her undertaking.
As a result, some of the children went home with their fathers and mothers, some were demanded by their friends and carried back to their parents, and out of the fifty only nineteen went to Westland row Station. ... Later in the day it was rumoured that an attempt was being made to send other children from the North Wall, and Father Landers, accompanied by a large and sympathetic escort, amongst which the red hand was prominent, went down the North Wall to stop the children. Blessings were poured on his head, and such ejaculations as “God bless you, father,” were heard among the crowd.
The rumour, however, proved false, as it was found that no boat was sailing to England, and consequently no children could be sent. Shortly after their arrival Countess Plunkett and some other ladies arrived at the Presbytery. On obtaining particulars from the mothers of the children, Countess Plunkett communicated with the Chief Superintendent of Police, and asked to have informations taken against certain persons on the charge of attempted kidnapping.
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