A total of 20 ‘Mollies’ were executed up to the end of 1879

ON 21 June 1877, ten Irish miners and labour activists – ‘The Molly Maguires’ – were executed in the United States.

‘The Molly Maguires’ were a 19th century secret society amongst Irish-born workers in the Pennsylvania coal mines. Their organisation and tactics were believed to be based on groups that had existed in Ireland during Land War agitation.

The mine owners were determined to wipe out any labour militancy and particularly targeted those branded as ‘Mollies’, accusing them of murder, sabotage and robberies.

A total of 20 ‘Mollies’ were executed up to the end of 1879. The anniversary of these executions occured as the East Wall History Group announced a Dublin talk on ‘The Molly Maguires’.

The talk – by New York writer John Kearns, who has published research and written a play on the Molly Maguires – is taking place in the award-winning Seán O’Casey Community Centre in East Wall, on Wednesday 3 July at 8pm