William X. O'Brien

Who was William X. O'Brien?

William X. O'Brien was a politician and trade unionist in Ireland.

Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, O'Brien moved with his family to Dublin in 1897, and quickly became involved in the Irish Socialist Republican Party. O'Brien is described as "a very significant figure in the ISRP" by the historian of the ISRP, David Lynch.

A close friend and associate of James Connolly, O'Brien helped establish the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union in 1909, and was instrumental in the Dublin Lock-out strike in 1913.

A member of the Irish Neutrality League, and Anti-Conscription Committee, during the World War I, O'Brien was interned on several occasions by the Dublin Castle government. During one of these instances, he stood in the 1920 Stockport by-election, but was refused a release to campaign in it.

With the formation of the Irish Free State, O'Brien was elected as Teachta Dála for Dublin South at the 1922 general election, and again for Tipperary in June 1927 and again in 1937.

An important figure in the Labour Party in Ireland in its formative days, O'Brien resisted James Larkin's attempt to gain control of the Party on release from prison.