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Killarney producer revisits Dunnes Stores strike in new radio documentary to air on St Stephen’s Day
Killarney producer revisits Dunnes Stores strike in new radio documentary
A new radio documentary by Killarney native Kelly Crichton is examining the role played by the Dunnes Stores strikers in influencing Ireland’s stance on apartheid South Africa.
‘The Power of the People’ revisits the strike that began on July 19, 1984, when Dunnes Stores worker Mary Manning refused to handle South African grapefruit at the Henry Street store in Dublin. Acting on instructions from her union not to handle South African goods, Manning was suspended from work, triggering what became one of the longest-running strikes in Irish trade union history.
The documentary explores the early tensions within the store, the personal cost to the strikers, and the growing political and international significance of their protest. Three of the original strikers feature prominently: Mary Manning, Liz Deasy, who was 17 at the time, and Tralee woman Karen Gearon, who addressed the United Nations during the dispute.
Mary Manning said the group faced isolation and hostility in the early stages of the strike but remained committed to their position despite threats and difficult experiences, including being detained in Johannesburg. She said the strike showed the impact ordinary people can have when they stand by their principles.
The programme charts how support grew over time, including backing from trade union official Brendan Archbold, ANC activist Nimrod Sejake, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and US civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson. The strikers’ actions ultimately contributed to Ireland becoming one of the first Western countries to ban South African imports.
Kelly Crichton said she was struck by the scale of what the group achieved when researching the documentary. She said the story remains relevant and offers lessons about collective action and persistence.
The documentary marks 40 years since the strikers’ visit to South Africa and addresses to the UN. ‘The Power of the People’ airs on ‘Documentary’ on Newstalk at 2pm
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