Bricklayer Indenture Cert and Bricklayer Guild Contribution Card

"Both items are connected to my Grandfather Matthew Mullen's working life as a bricklayer in Dublin and our family's connection to the bricklayer's guild. My Grandfather was indentured to his own father Martin Mullen in May 1916. The ceremony was held in Cuffe St. and my Grandfather would have been sworn in by candlelight. His two elder brothers would have gone through the same ceremony but at the time neither were working as bricklayers one was in hospital in Gallipoli after being injured fighting with the British army, the other was in prison after participating in the Rising. My Grandfather would go on to fight in the War of Independence and just after he finished his apprenticeship he would take the anti-treaty side in the Civil War. He fought in the Battle of Dublin and was captured by the Free State forces in Harcourt Terrace in July 1922, imprisoned in Kilmainham Goal and finally Gormanstown. After his release he continued to work as a bricklayer in Dublin until the early 1970s and continued to pay his dues to the guild as seen by his contribution card. According to family history he did the brickwork on the Gasworks building on D'Olier St."