William X. O'Brien
| William X. O'Brien | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Teachta Dála | |
|
In office July 1937 – May 1938 |
|
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In office June 1927 – August 1927 |
|
| Constituency | Tipperary |
|
In office June 1922 – August 1923 |
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| Constituency | Dublin South |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
23 January 1881 Clonakilty, Ireland |
| Died | 31 October 1968 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party |
National Labour Party (1944–46) Labour Party (1912–44) |
| Occupation | Trade union leader |
William X. O'Brien (23 January 1881 – 31 October 1968) was a politician and trade unionist in Ireland.
Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, and christened 'John William', O'Brien moved with his family to Dublin in 1897, and quickly became involved in the Irish Socialist Republican Party (ISRP). 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 , but was refused a release to campaign in it.
With the formation of the Irish Free State, O'Brien was elected as Teachta Dála (TD) 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. Taking Larkin to court over his occupation of ITGWU headquarters, the Larkin-O'Brien feud resulted in a split within the labour and trade union movements, and the formation of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
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