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- January 23, 1881
William O’Brien (23 January 1881 – 31 October 1968) was a politician and trade unionist in Ireland. While rarely dominating the political spotlight, O’Brien was incredibly powerful and influential behind the scenes, maintaining a firm grip over Ireland’s trade unions for many decades. Besides his leadership in the trade unions, O’Brien was a founder, alongside James Larkin and James Connolly, of the Labour Party of Ireland. In later years a rift formed between Larkin and O’Brien that would last the rest of their lives and often divide the labour movement in Ireland.
O’Brien was born in Ballygurteen, Clonakilty, County Cork on 23 January 1881, and was christened as ‘John William’. He was the fourth child and third son of Daniel O’Brien of County Tipperary and Mary O’Brien (née Butler) of County Kilkenny. His father Daniel, an Irish nationalist, devout Catholic, and Irish-language revivalist had been a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary before retiring at the rank of Head Constable and moving the family to Dublin in 1886.
Upon moving to Dublin, O’Brien sought an occupation that could accommodate the fact he suffered from club foot and became a tailor.