Creamery owners attempted to cut wages by one-third in May 1922. In protest, almost one hundred creameries were seized and turned into Soviets. The main ones were in Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Bansha, Kilmaollock, Knocklong, Bruree, Athlacca, Tankardstown, Ballingady and Aherlow. They were able to do this due to the political situation at the time.The Free State had yet to assert itself. The Irish Farmers Union organised boycotts of the Soviets which defeated most of them. Several creameries were the victim of arson. The Tipperary Soviet resisted longer and was involved in a shoot out with the anti-treaty side. The gasworks were destroyed by the retreating anti-treaty forces. The pro-treaty side crushed Soviets under the cover of war as it regained territory from the anti-treaty side. Soviets were set up around the country, but particularly in Munster. In April a red flag flew over Tipperary town coachworks as a Soviet was declared. Soviets were set up in unusual places too, like the Castleconnel fisheries and the Monaghan mental hospital, where staff (supported by the inmates) barricaded themselves inside for twelve days before finally winning a pay rise. Unemployed workers seized and reopened a closed sawmill in Ballinacourty Tipperary. This was eventually broken up by the IRA. Braodford, County Clare too had its own Soviet. Similarly The IRA was used to break up strikes in Whitechurch, Youghal and Fermoy.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 02:25:55 +0000
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