The Dublin Guntrade.1916

1916. Trades directory entries.			The Dublin Guntrade  1916
	Flint, J.	& Co		17 Essex Quay.
	Kavanagh	William & Son		12 Dame St
	Keegan	L		3 Kings Inns Quay
	Parkinson	John		17 Arran Quay
	Trulock Bros			13 Parliament Street.

One hundred years ago the The Rising was to change the face of the British Empire both politically and geographically. Although,the struggle would continue for a further 6 years, the die had been cast and this action was instrumental in gaining for Ireland its independence.   

Extreme pressure was laid upon the guntrade leading up to and after the Rising when arms dealers were hounded by the authorities and when the Irish Republican Brotherhood were active in illegally procuring arms for their struggle to free Ireland. In addition, ammunition was restricted this being bonded in Phoenix Park under armed guard. All the above listed gunmakers in 1916 would draw their allocation of ammunition and every round would be noted and signed for.

These conditions would ultimately stifle the guntrade throughout Ireland and most evidently in Dublin where the Rising was most potent. Although, like the Rebellion of 1798 they were both seen as failures the seismic shift in political thinking and the realization by the British Government that total control its first colony was untenable led to Royal intervention,political conciliation both bolstered by ballot box evidence expressed by the majority of the Irish people.

Dublin gunmakers, William Kavanagh and Son were the only company to remain advertising for business following partition in 1922 and were to finally close their doors in 1923. It was not until the close of World War Two that the guntrade re-established some semblance of normality.

We are always interested in any aspect related to the early guntrade throughout the whole Ireland.


                                  Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk