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Source for Larkin's famous comment

Snickers Man · 2020-12-06 21:12:01

I'm keen to verify, or debunk whichever is truer, the famous line supposedly uttered by James Larkin, the pioneering Trade Union leader of the early 20th century, when he turned up at a meeting in an expensive overcoat and fancy fedora hat, smoking a cigar. When challenged that his appearance was out of step with the…

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06-12-2020 10:12pm

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Snickers Man

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I'm keen to verify, or debunk whichever is truer, the famous line supposedly uttered by James Larkin, the pioneering Trade Union leader of the early 20th century, when he turned up at a meeting in an expensive overcoat and fancy fedora hat, smoking a cigar.

When challenged that his appearance was out of step with the typical attire of his colleagues, flat caps and copiously patched clothes, he is said to have replied: "Nothing is too good for the working man!"

The only reference I could find from a perfunctory online search was a passing comment in an article written by Eoghan Harris (not a reputable source IMHO) in the Sunday Independent (ditto) some years ago.

Any labour historians out there who could point to a reference for it, or is it possibly just an urban myth?

Open minded.

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