26-27 September 2013: The story of the Lockout: Liberty Hall installation

The final two banners of the Liberty Hall wrap around, depicting scenes from the 1913 Lockout, were unfurled on Thursday 26  and Friday 27 September. The three-sided wrap was installed around Liberty Hall to provide a unique focal point for the commemorative year by depicting the story of the Lockout.

The 50 meter high, 17 meter wide banners cover the entire south, west and east façades of Liberty Hall from the first to the fifteenth floors. The final banners, covering the eastern and western façades, were unfurled on 26 and 27  September respectively. The scenes depicted on the banners are based on the artwork developed for the SIPTU National Tapestry Project by Robert Ballagh and Cathy Henderson. The Lockout ‘graphic novel’ will build on and complement the programme for the commemoration, as well as drawing attention and making links to the programme of events such as the ‘Banners and Badges’ Exhibition at Collins Barracks, the SS Hare food ship re-enactment with Dublin Port, along with the National Tapestry Project.

SIPTU Head of Infrastructure, Tony Walsh, said ‘after months of preparation this striking tribute to the men and women of the 1913 Lockout will finally be on view to all. The 1913 Committee is confident that this massive public artwork will both excite and inform viewers. The banners will remain in place throughout the centenary of the 1913 Lockout which concludes in January 2014’.

To watch the RTE report on the Lockout banners, click here.

To read The Irish Times’ ‘Century’ supplement Locked Out, click here.