Britannica AI Icon

Irish Citizen Army

Irish political organization

Quick Summary

The Irish Citizen Army was a militant workers' defense force established in Dublin in November 1913. It was formed in response to a brutal lockout of union members by industrialists. James Connolly, a Marxist union leader and revolutionary, became its commander. The Citizen Army played a role in the Easter Rising of 1916, joining forces with the Irish Volunteers. Connolly, as commandant general, led their contingent in capturing the General Post Office in Dublin, where the Irish republic was proclaimed. Following the suppression of the rising, Connolly was executed by British authorities, becoming a martyr for Irish socialism and republicanism.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.