Features

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Sean McLoughlin

Charlie McGuire sheds some light on the important but largely forgotten role played by Sean McLoughlin in Ireland's independence struggle and the civil war which followed the signing of the Treaty with Britain
2008-03-13 15:21:48

Communists and the Irish civil war

Historian Charlie McGuire outlines the role of Irish communists in the civil war of 1922-23
2008-03-13 14:11:00

Remembering the Manchester Martyrs

On the one-hundred-and-fortieth anniversary of the execution of the three innocent Fenians, David Granville previews a one-day conference at the Working Class Movement Library in Salford to commemorate this event
2007-11-23 12:02:07

Rossport's war of attrition

Padraig O’Meschoíl reports from Rossport, Co Mayo where local opposition to oil giant Shell’s plans to build a dangerous gas pipeline close to homes has turned into one of Ireland’s most high-profile campaigns for justice (This article originally appeared in the October/November print edition of the Irish Democrat, but due to technical difficulties has only recently become available for publication on our web edition)
2007-01-25 16:21:58

Iceland - a country of distinctive modernity

Christy Evans writes that the cold beauty of Iceland is matched by its inhabitants cold loathing for a major US airbase located in the country (Irish language article)
2007-01-25 15:00:21

Migration study seeks participants

A new research project at Queen’s University, Belfast, is to investigate migration to Northern Ireland. Researchers hope to gain an insight into the reasons why some of those people who migrated in the 1970’s and 1980’s have chosen to stay away, while others have returned home.
2006-12-27 15:18:19

Martin Flannery (an appreciation)

David Granville pays tribute to the former Sheffield MP Martin Flannery, a fighter for his class and a true friend of Ireland
2006-12-27 13:37:39

'Scottie', MacKenzie Kennedy remembered

Stephen Coyle tells the story of MacKenzie Kennedy who died for the Irish Republic during the civil war
2006-09-08 13:08:55

An Bholaiv - Caithréim na ndaoine

EvGearóid Ó Colmáino traces the historical development of Bolivia from the time of the conquistadores to the present under president Morales, focusing on the struggle of the oppressed aboriginal people for equality and justice (Irish language article)
2006-07-05 18:30:58

A constitution to destroy Irish republicanism

We must face the fact the participation in the EU parliament is at variance with the ideals of 1916, writes John Murphy
2006-07-05 14:56:49

Equality undermined

Michael Hall looks into claims that ‘high-level’ decisions made exempt from equality laws are a breach of the Good Friday agreement
2006-07-05 13:17:21

New film champions humanity

Jeremy Hardy talks about his partner Katie Barlow’s new film about occupied Palestine
2006-07-05 13:10:11

De Valera's betrayal of the women of 1916

Peter Berresford Ellis argues that the 1937 constitution made male chauvinism an institution and was a betrayal of the women who had fought from 1916 for Irish independence and equality
2006-07-05 11:56:58

British labour and the Easter Rising

David Granville examines the response of the labour movement in Britain to the Easter Rising of 1916
2006-07-04 21:30:23

Sinn Fein set out need for all-Ireland health strategy

Feilim O hAdhmaill looks at Sinn Feín’s new health policy for the island of Ireland and argues that an all-Ireland native NHS is the cure
2006-07-04 16:24:11

Connolly and the Easter Rising

The full text of Priscilla Metscher's contribution to the James Connolly 90th anniversary celebration, held in the London Irish Centre, Camden Town on 18 May 2006
2006-05-25 19:03:22

Ripples of freedom and the 1916 Rising

Communist Party of Ireland general secretary Eugene McCarten the importance of Connolly's conviction that the working class must take a leading role in the struggle for national freedom and independence
2006-05-25 17:07:31

James Connolly, Irish socialist

German-based Irish historian Priscilla Metscher examines the development of Connolly's political beliefs
2006-05-25 16:24:09

James Connolly, 1916 and the 'blood sacrifice' myth

Peter Berresford Ellis examines Connolly's the background to participation in the 1916 Easter Rising and challenges the myth of the 'blood sacrifice'
2006-05-25 16:09:27

1981 hunger strikes: 25th anniversary

To mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of 1981 hunger strikes, the Irish Democrat publishes a series of accounts written by those involved
2006-04-07 10:20:24

A lesson the oppressed will never forget

Trade union activist and former republican prisoner Tommy McKearney points to the significance of the 1981 hunger strike
2006-04-07 10:14:28

Gospel of the oppressed

Fr Joe McVeigh describes his role in events leading up to the death of Bobby Sands
2006-04-07 09:35:05

Bobby Sands: an international icon

The Irish Democrat speaks with Denis O’Hearn, author of a new book on the life of Bobby Sands
2006-04-06 22:43:22

Meddling and manipulating

Tommy McKearney looks at the effect on Sinn Fein of Denis Donaldson's exposure as an agent of the British state
2006-02-14 15:07:58

The Kilmichael ambush controversy

Cork No 3 IRA Commandant Tom Barry led one of the most devastating military actions against the British, but did not execute prisoners during the operation, writes Meda Ryan
2006-02-12 16:38:18

Jim Savage: an obituary

David Granville pays tribute to the life of Cork socialist and republican Jim Savage who died on 16 December 2005
2006-02-09 13:08:37

Rossport campaign goes on

Ruairi McCann asks if was Norwegian pressure that secutred the relaease of the Rossport campaigners
2005-11-29 12:00:06

Freedom of speech

Ciara Brannigan argues that the right for six-counties representatives to speak in the Oireachtas is a small step towards unit
2005-11-29 11:53:04

Sean Moylan: soldier, politician and independent spirit

Spanish Civil War veteran Micheál O'Riordan welcomes the publication of Sean Moylan's class-conscious memoir of the Irish War of Independence
2005-09-16 11:20:20

The 1926 Abbey rising

With Ireland’s greatest living cultural heritage rocked by financial mismanagement, infighting and near closure recently, Sally Richardson takes a look at one of the more controversial episodes in the Abbey Theatre’s prestigious history.
2005-08-21 21:26:04

Republicans must win Protestant support

Irish Republicans need to include the northern protestant identity in their vision of a united Ireland to prize them away from unionism, writes Felim O’Hamill
2005-08-21 21:19:55

More 'butcher' than 'grocer'

David Granville argues that legitinate questions remain over the former Tory leader's denials during his lifetime of responsibility for the massacre of unarmed civil rights demonstators on Bloody Sunday 1972
2005-07-28 11:32:56

Edging towards a two-party tussle

Chris Donnelly analyses what the May 5 election results mean for the political parties in the six counties and what may now transpire in light of Sinn Féin and the DUPconsolidating their electoral dominance
2005-07-27 11:48:39

An iniquitous Act

David Granville shows how the British government's decision to push through the Inquiries Act rides roughshod over the widespread concerns the Finucane family, human rights groups, legal profession bodies and senior members of the judiciary
2005-05-10 17:56:22

Spoils of empire in south London

Sean Lynch recommends a visit to the Imperial War Museum in London but finds himself dismayed by its Irish collection
2005-04-28 15:43:22

Dublin-Monaghan: time for a real inquiry

At last year’s European Social Forum, Bernie McNally and Margaret Unwin, two victims of the Dublin Monaghan bombings of May 1974, gave an impassioned call for a public inquiry into the atrocity to a packed meeting organised by the Connolly Association. Here, the Irish Democrat reprints their speeches in full, including disturbing evidence of collusion by British forces in the bombing
2005-04-28 14:53:52

Multiculturalism is nothing new

Far from being the homogenous nation portrayed by anti-immigrationists, Ireland has always been a country of complementary contrasts, writes Sally Richardson
2004-10-12 11:10:45

Bobbie Heatley, 1934-2004

In the mid 1990s Bobby Heatley was one of 40 people from Protestant backgrounds interviewed by independent film maker Marilyn Hyndman as part of a project which aimed to provide a picture of Protestant identity beyond unionism and loyalism
2004-10-06 10:12:09

Adams highlights importance of republished Greaves classic

A new edition of Desmond Greaves' classic study of Liam Mellows has been published. The book includes an introduction written by the Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams
2004-08-24 15:16:07

A working-class friend of Ireland

John Gregory was one of Bristol's shoemaker-poets. Born in Bideford, Devon, apprenticed to a shoemaker at age 11, he was to become the writer of hundreds of poems and songs and a pioneer of the labour, socialist and co-operative movements. Gerrard Sables came upon this poem in support of Home Rule for Ireland whilst engaged in research into Gregory's life
2004-08-24 12:41:31

British army torture tactics are nothing new, says Adams

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was among those unsurprised by reports of abuse by British soldiers in Iraq. Here he tells the story of his own suffering at the hands of the British army
2004-08-04 07:43:20

Michael Barrett: a Fenian remembered

Kevin Haddick Flynn on the Irishman who suffered the last public hanging in Britain
2004-08-03 15:04:54

The Abbey and the genius of Irish theatre

As Dublin's celebrated Abbey Theatre celebrates its centenary, Kevin Haddick Flynn looks back at its place at the heart of Irish cultural identity, and asks where drama is headed
2004-08-03 12:44:14

Memories of the Maypole disaster

In 1908, seventy-five people, many of them Irish, died in one of the British mining industry’s worst tragedys. Here, Joe Mullarkey describes that disaster, and the moves being made to commemorate those who lost their lives
2004-08-03 12:15:32

Divide and Rule

Foreign policy expert journalism lecturer Conn Hallinan draws some parallels between recent Israeli support for Kurdish separatism and a key cornerstone of British imperial policy, not least of all in Ireland. (Reproduced here with the kind permission of the author and Portside, a US-based website, which encourages left-wing discussion and debate)
2004-07-19 14:48:01

Anti-national revision is 'alive and kicking'

Irish historical discourse continues to be tainted by 'apologists for imperialism' writes Peter Berresford Ellis
2004-05-26 10:57:05

Enlightened Feminism

The Enlightenment values which brought about the 1798 Rebellion were also crucial to the burgeoning feminist movement, writes Sally Richardson
2004-05-26 10:01:36

The Irish Revolutionary Women of Cumann na mBan

In the second part of her series on the role of women in revolutionary Ireland, Sally Richardson looks at their role in the events of 1918 and beyond
2004-04-02 07:40:43

Republican, socialist, feminist:Connolly and the women's movement

Originally published in 2004 as the second part of her series on the Irish women’s movement in the revolutionary period, Sally Richardson looks at the key role played by James Connolly in linking suffragism and socialism.
2004-02-01 15:02:23

Irish women and revolution

Sally Richardson examines the intertwining of feminism and revolution in Ireland
2003-12-23 20:22:10

Robert Emmet: enigmatic revolutionary

Historian Ruán O’Donnell assesses the real significance of one of Ireland’s most iconic and misunderstood national heroes, the United Irishman Robert Emmet, who was executed 200 years ago in the wake of the failure of the 1803 rising
2003-07-17 13:58:18

The missing piece

An edited extract from a new Connolly Association pamphlet by Ken Keable in which he expalins how thge 'Northern Ireland problem' arose -- and how people in Britain can play a part in helping to solve it
2003-03-11 17:02:52

Kelly's Eye (February /March/April 2003)

Gerry Kelly surfs the world-wide web in search of sites to inform, inspire and entertain readers of the Irish Democrat
2003-03-10 11:44:21

Following in the footsteps of Connolly

Irish trade unionist Manus O’Riordan pays tribute to life and work of the Kerry-born founder of the Transport Workers Union of America Michael J Quill, fighter for Irish independence, social justice and racial equality
2002-12-29 15:56:36

Civil rights: the struggle for peace and justice

Former Connolly Association general secretary and Irish trade union official Sean Redmond points to the importance of persisting with this aspect of our campaign work (December 2002/January 2003 edition)
2002-12-29 15:33:37

An ghorta mhór: a consequence of ambivalence?

Peter Berresford Ellis welcomes S J Donnelly’s new book about the ‘the great hunger’ and reminds us that this was not the first misnamed ‘famine’ to have resulted from British colonial policy (December 2002/January 2003 edition)
2002-12-29 15:20:01

Kelly's Eye (December 2002/January 2003)

Gerry Kelly surfs the world-wide web in search of websites to inform and entertain readers of the Irish Democrat
2002-12-28 18:20:53

Short Strand: one mother's diary of a community under siege

The predominantly nationalist enclave of Short Strand in east Belfast, where around 3,000 Catholics/nationalists live amid a community of 90,000 Protestants/unionists, has suffered a daily onslaught of sectarian violence and intimidation at the hands of organised loyalists gangs since 11 May, 2001 (October/November 2002 edition)
2002-10-03 16:11:30

Kelly's Eye (October/November 2002)

Gerry Kelly surfs the world-wide web in search of websites to inform and entertain readers of the Irish Democrat
2002-10-03 14:31:16

James Connolly: for the love of freedom

Priscilla Metscher takes a fresh look at the politics of the labour leader, marxist theoretician and Irish patriot James Connolly who identified the significance of linking the fight for socialism in Ireland to the struggle for national liberation (August/September 2002 edition)
2002-07-31 10:16:12

Red Jim was a green man

Emmet O’ Connor argues that whatever differences there may have been between James Connolly and Jim Larkin, any perception that the latter was either disinterested in or hostile to the cause of Irish nationalism simply doesn’t stand up to the facts (August/September 2002 edition)
2002-07-30 18:07:11

Irish in the land of Oz

The reappearance in print of Patrick O’Farrell’s The Irish in Australia serves to remind us of the enormous impact that Irish migration has had on the development of modern Australia explains Limerick-based historian Ruán O’Donnell (August/September 2002 edition)
2002-07-30 17:44:09

A tangled web of intrigue

Journalist Paul Donovan argues that the recent publication of Paul Routledge’s book on Thatcher favourite Airey Neave raises important questions about a number of deaths relating to the the Irish conflict (August/September 2002 edition)
2002-07-30 17:10:06

Obit: Sister Sarah Clarke:the prisoners' 'Joan of Arc'

Pegeen O’Sullivan pays tribute to the humanitarian work of a tireless and compassionate campaigner for the human rights and welfare of Irish prisoners in Britain and their families, Sister Sarah Clarke, who died earlier this year.(June/July 2002 edition)
2002-05-30 08:14:53

Napper Tandy: forgotten patriot

Ian McKeane reassesses the reputation of one of the most colourful figures of the United Irish movement (June/July 2002 edition)
2002-05-29 23:24:46

A very special night for Mick O'Riordan

Lynda Walker reports from a packed New Theatre in Dublin on a special tribute earlier this year to anti-fascist fighter and communist Mick O'Riordan headlined by the Irish folk legend Christy Moore. (April/May 2002 edition)
2002-03-29 18:36:13

The song for all socialists

Seventy-three years after the death of Jim Connell, Liam Smith looks back at the life of the Irishman responsible for penning The Red Flag. While out of favour with the current leadership of Britain’s Labour Party, the song remains popular amongst ordinary members and with socialists throughout the world.(February/March 2002 edition)
2002-02-03 18:03:26

Historical spotlight on Irish women activists

A new historical and biographical series, focusing on Irish women activists, is about to be launched by Dublin-based publisher The Woodfield Press. Series editor Ruth Taillion explains the thinking behind the initiative.(December 2001/January 2002)
2001-11-27 21:00:27

Robert Emmet: revising reputations

Ruán O'Donnell argues that Robert Emmett is one of the most misunderstood figures in Irish history. (June/July 2001)
2001-11-27 21:00:27

Jamie Hope of Templepatrick

Ruán O'Donnell pays tribute to the life of working-class United Irishman James Hope. (December 2001/January 2002 edition)
2001-11-27 20:29:22

Letter from Cork

Cork correspondent Jim Savage takes another look at the issue of homelessness in the twenty-six county's second city
2001-11-27 00:10:06

Letter from New York

New York correspondent Joe Jamison predicts an authoritarian backlash after the tragic events in New York last month
2001-10-02 13:06:13

A hunger for change

Sinn Féin's Jim Gibney, below, explains the impact of the 1981 hunger strikes on the development of modern republicanism. (October/November 2001 edition)
2001-10-02 12:55:01

Was Connolly an Esperantist?

Ken Keable examines evidence that labour leader James Connolly spoke Esperanto, the international language, and explains it's attractin to socialists and internationalists around the world. (August/September 2001 edition)
2001-10-01 15:56:40