During the Loyalist Strike of 1974, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson made a telecast to the people of Northern Ireland, hoping to influence them to reject the call to strike and return to work. During his speech, he referred to the strike leaders as ‘spongers’. His words had the opposite effect to what he wanted and multiplied the number of strikers. At a loyalist rally in Ballymena the next day, homemade sponge badges were proudly worn on lapels and a group of women chanted ‘We are the spongers!’ Wilson’s words had illustrated the remoteness and lack of sympathy to the people of Northern Ireland by the British Government.

Label written by Debory Barr, Mid – Antrim Museum.