Between 1917 and 1922, Limerick was one of the epicentres of Labour activity in Ireland. The large unionist-owned Cleeves business empire was the scene for a series of ‘soviets’ and strikes of which the Knocklong and Bruree Soviets in 1921 was among the most prominent. Many of these soviets used the slogan ‘we make bread not profits.’ However, there were numerous other labour disputes in Limerick city and county during this period which attracted widespread publicity. Eventually, the prevailing social conservatism, the absence of a large industrial workforce and the outbreak of the Civil War resulted in the ultimate defeat of this wave of labour agitation.
