History

Celebrate Ireland’s Blow For Freedom
The aims of the Easter Rising are something to commemorate with honour and defend from its detractors, writes veteran socialist activist Sean Garland.

Cobh’s Forgotten Revolutionary
John Jeffries discovers the legacy of John Dowling, a trade unionist and communist from Munster’s revolutionary past.

I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night……
This year marks the centenary of the execution of trade union activist Joe Hill in the United States. He is perhaps better known on this side of the world as the subject of the folk ballad sung by Luke Kelly.

Bomb girls & revolutionaries
The war economy in Ireland between 1914 and 1918 changed the lives of many women as well as providing key skills for republicans, according to historian Hugo McGuinness.

Better Dead than Red
Despite the small number of active communists in 1930s Ireland this did not prevent the emergence of mass anti-communist movements and politicians whipping up ‘red scares’, reports Donal Fallon

A Disputed Legacy
Historian Brian Hanley examines the politics and legacy of one of Ireland’s most iconic Left organisations

Look Back in Anger
Brian Hanley on the politics of the First World War and its commemoration.

From Ribbons to Reform
Alexander O’Fhailghigh on the politics of the Irish working class in early 19th century Scotland.

November 1913: The Red vs the Green
In November 1913 the worlds of class struggle and nationalism collided in dramatic fashion at the launch of the Irish Volunteers, writes Brian Hanley

Lockout – 1913
Even after 100 years the 1913 Lockout still overshadows the Irish Labour movement and progressive politics in Ireland, argues Brian Hanley.