The Ancient Guild of Incorporated Brick and Stonelayers Indenture Certificate

"The Ancient Guild of Incorporated Brick and Stonelayers was one of the earliest trade unions, tracing its roots back to 1670. To become a member of the guild, you would have to be indentured as an apprentice to an existing member of the guild to serve your time under them. In May 1916, my Grandfather was indentured to his father. My Grandfather’s two elder brothers had separately in previous years gone through the process, however neither of them were working as bricklayers in Dublin in 1916. In Easter week 1916, one brother was fighting against the British Army in Jacob’s Biscuit Factory and the other was in hospital after nearly being killed fighting with the British army in Gallipoli. Shortly after my Grandfather finished his apprenticeship in May 1922, he would fight on the anti-treaty side of the Civil War in the Battle of Dublin and be imprisoned. He remained a member of the guild until he died in 1974 and I have his union card from 1971, detailing his weekly contributions to the guild."