The Historical Directory of Trade Unions in Ireland, first published in 2017 by the Irish Labour History Society and the Working Class Movement Library, is now online.

Both the original 616-page directory, edited by Francis Devine and John B. Smethurst, and a substantial 38-page update compiled by Devine, can be found on the ILHS website, and are free to download in PDF format.

The directory, a monumental piece of labour history, grew out of the earlier UK-focused six-volume Historical Directory of Trade Unions begun by Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, with volume 1 appearing in 1980, and completed by Smethurst after first Ryan and then Marsh died in the 1990s.

Introducing the Ireland Directory, Devine recalls that the idea originated when he visited Smethurst at home in Eccles. Although at first not sure the idea was viable, he became convinced that it was once the volume of material that would need to be included became clear.

He adds: ‘I made a commitment to Smethurst to complete the task, little knowing that he was not to live to see the project completed as he died in 2010. It is in tribute to Smethurst, an old comrade and friend, that what is essentially his work is now offered to complement the six volumes already published.’

The original six volumes, which encompass trade unions operating in both the UK and Ireland, were:

Arthur Marsh & Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, Volume 1, Non-Manual Unions (Gower, Farnborough, 1980), pp. 228;

Arthur Marsh & Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, Volume 2, Including Unions in Engineering, Shipbuilding & Minor Metal Trades, Coal Mining & Iron & Steel, Agriculture, Fishing & Chemicals (Gower, Aldershot, 1984), pp. 379;

Arthur Marsh & Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, Volume 3, Including Unions in Building & Allied Trades, Transport, Woodworkers & Allied Trades, Leather Workers, Enginemen & Tobacco Workers (Gower, Aldershot, 1987), pp. 525;

Arthur Marsh, Victoria Ryan & John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, Volume 4, Including Unions in Cotton, Wool & Worsted, Linen & Jute, Silk, Elastic Web, Lace & Net, Hosiery & Knitwear, Textile Finishing, Tailoring & Garment Workers, Hat & Cap, Carpets & Textile Engineering (Scolar Press, Aldershot, 1994), pp. 558;

Arthur Marsh & John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, Volume 5, Including Unions in Printing & Publishing, Local Government, Retail & Distribution, Domestic Services, General Employment, Financial Services, Agriculture (Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot, 2006), pp. 586;

John B. Smethurst & Peter Carter, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, Volume 6, Including Unions in, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Fishing, Chemicals, Wood & Woodworking, Transport, Engineering & Metal Working, Government, Civil & Public Services, Energy & Extraction in the United Kingdom & Ireland, Shipbuilding (Ashgate Publishing, Farnham, 2009), pp. 696.

Download the Historical Directory of Trade Unions in Ireland and Additions to the Historical Directory of Trade Unions in Ireland

Historical Directory of Trade Unions in Ireland, by Francis Devine and John B. Smethurst (ILHS and WCML, 2017).

Additions to the Historical Directory of Trade Unions in Ireland, by Francis Devine (ILHS, 2024).