Bluesky rediscovers the 1984-87 Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strike
A viral post sends thousands to the Wikipedia page on Irish shop workers who struck for three years over South African grapefruit.
What to know
- The Dunnes Stores strike (1984-1987) was a three-year Irish workers' boycott of South African goods that led Ireland to become the first Western government to fully ban South African imports.
- The story resurfaced in 2026 via a viral Bluesky post pairing a comedy video with the Wikipedia article, drawing hundreds of reactions from people encountering it for the first time.
- Nelson Mandela later credited the strikers with helping sustain him during his imprisonment, and met them in person in 1990.
Surprise and gratitude at never having heard this history before
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“Incredible story! I'd never heard it before.”
bookjockeyalex.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
The strike proves boycotts are an effective tool against oppression, including today's corporate power
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“I was in South Africa during apartheid - boycotts work! Ordinary people just need to stand up for what is right and stick to their convictions. Also effective against corporate oppressors and billionaires!”
stefansiebert.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Curiosity about the comedian/video that sparked the post
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“Not just this video. I stumbled across this guy like 6 months ago. His whole set is like this. Iirc he ends it by recommending all the books that inspired the set..”
onewingedsparrow.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Mary Manning Dunnes Stores shop workerKaren Gearon IDATU shop stewardDesmond Tutu South African archbishop, Nobel laureateNelson Mandela Former South African president, Nobel laureateoliviawaite.com Bluesky poster
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage postscomments
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1
Bluesky post about a comedy video revives interest in the strike
A Bluesky user shares a comedy video alongside the Wikipedia link, calling the strike's history 'funny because it's true'; the post gathers hundreds of reposts and a wave of comments from people who had never heard the story.
“Oh my god it's funny because it's true — take a gander at the video and then read up…”
— oliviawaite.com -
O
Oh my god it’s funny because it’s true — take a gander at the video and then read up: en.
2 more of the top 3 · 10 posts in this stretch
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I was astonished to find so much documentation about it! Wikipedia and documentaries and a wealth of attestation! Had never imagined, but how wonderful.
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B
Incredible story! I'd never heard it before.
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background
Dublin unveils plaque commemorating the strike — South African President Thabo Mbeki presents a plaque commemorating the strike, unveiled on Henry Street in Dublin; a street in Johannesburg is later named after Mary Manning.
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Nelson Mandela meets the strikers in Dublin — Nelson Mandela, receiving the Freedom of the City of Dublin, meets the former strikers and credits their action with sustaining him during his imprisonment.
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Irish Government bans South African imports — After nearly three years of strike action and public pressure, the Irish Government bans the importation of South African goods, ending the strike and making Ireland the first Western government to impose a complete ban on South African imports.
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Archbishop Desmond Tutu meets the strikers — On his way to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Desmond Tutu meets the striking workers and invites them to visit South Africa, boosting morale after early support had been thin.
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Eight strikers travel to South Africa and are deported — Eight of the strikers travel to South Africa on Tutu's invitation but are barred from entering the country; their deportation draws extensive Irish news coverage.
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Mary Manning refuses to sell South African grapefruit — Following her union IDATU's directive, 21-year-old Dunnes Stores worker Mary Manning refuses to handle South African produce at the Henry Street store in Dublin; she and shop steward Karen Gearon are suspended and go on strike with other union members.
What people are saying 5 voices from 1 site · best of 10 · verbatim
- Sep 22
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Not just this video. I stumbled across this guy like 6 months ago. His whole set is like this. Iirc he ends it by recommending all the books that inspired the set..
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Never heard about this, even though as the granddaughter of an Irish immigrant I pay attention to developments in Ireland.
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I was in South Africa during apartheid - boycotts work! Ordinary people just need to stand up for what is right and stick to their convictions. Also effective against corporate oppressors and billionaires!
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thank you. i need this. a very thank you to you.
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Oh my gosh. To this WHOLE story. I had never heard a word of it!