Irish Republican Socialist Party
Páirtí Poblachtach Sóisalach na h-Éireann
AbbreviationIRSP
LeaderArd Chomhairle
(National Executive)
ChairmanMartin McMonagle
FounderSeamus Costello and others
Founded8 December 1974 (1974-12-08)
Split fromOfficial Sinn Féin
HeadquartersCostello House,
392b Falls Road,
Belfast, BT12 6DH,
County Antrim,
Northern Ireland
NewspaperThe Starry Plough
Worker's Republic (Belfast)[1]
Youth wingRepublican Socialist Youth Movement
Paramilitary wingINLA (1974–present)
IdeologyCommunism
Marxism–Leninism
Irish republicanism
Anti-globalisation[2]
Hard Euroscepticism
Political positionFar-left
Colours  Red
  Yellow
  White
Website
irsp.ie

The Irish Republican Socialist Party or IRSP (Irish: Páirtí Poblachtach Sóisialach na hÉireann) is a communist (Marxist–Leninist)[3] and republican party in Ireland. It is often referred to as the "political wing" of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) paramilitary group.[4] It was founded by former members of Official Sinn Féin in 1974 during the Troubles, but claims the legacy of the Irish Socialist Republican Party of 1896–1904.

History

Early years

The Starry Plough is often used as a symbol to represent the Irish Republican Socialist Party, its armed wing the Irish National Liberation Army, and other Irish republican socialist groups

The Irish Republican Socialist Party was founded at a meeting on 8 December 1974 in the Spa Hotel in Lucan, near Dublin, by former members of Workers' Party (aka 'Official' Sinn Féin), headed by Seamus Costello. According to the IRSP, 80 people were in attendance.[5] A paramilitary wing, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was founded the same day, although its existence was intended to be kept hidden until such a time that the INLA could operate effectively. Costello was elected as the party's first chairperson and the Army's first chief of staff. Together, the IRSP and the INLA were referred to as the Irish Republican Socialist Movement (IRSM).[6]

Former Unity MP for Mid-Ulster Bernadette McAliskey served on the executive of the IRSP.[7] She resigned following the failure of a motion to be passed which would have brought the INLA under the control of the IRSP Ard Comhairle (executive committee). This led to the resignation of half the Ard Comhairle, which weakened the party. Tony Gregory, a future Dublin TD, was also a member for a short time.[8] Its poor showing in the 1977 Irish general election, and the assassination of Seamus Costello, weakened the organisation.

Costello had been expelled from the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) following a court-martial, and from Official Sinn Féin on the same basis. Along with other activists, he was dissatisfied with the group's tactics and policies, especially on the issues surrounding the 1972 OIRA ceasefire and his growing belief that the emerging conflict was sectarian.

Clashes with other republicans and the British

On 5 October 1977, Costello was shot dead in his car by a man armed with a shotgun. His supporters blamed the Official IRA for the killing.[9][10]

Following meetings between the INLA and OIRA leadership in Dublin, a truce was eventually reached, but in one of the first of the INLA's armed operations, Billy McMillen, commanding officer of the OIRA Belfast Battalion, was murdered by Gerard Steenson. In the following years, the IRSP and INLA saw several of their members, including Miriam Daly, Ronnie Bunting and Noel Little killed by Ulster loyalist paramilitaries, most prominently the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).[11]

Three members of the INLA died in the 1981 Irish hunger strike in HM Prison Maze, also known as Long Kesh: Patsy O'Hara, Kevin Lynch, and Michael Devine.

In 1987, the INLA and its political wing, the IRSP came under attack from the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO), an organisation founded by people who had resigned or been expelled from the INLA. The IPLO's initial aim was to destroy the IRSM and replace it with their organisation. Five members of the INLA and IRSP were killed by the IPLO, including leaders Ta Power and John O'Reilly. The INLA retaliated with several killings of their own. After the INLA killed the IPLO's leader, Gerard Steenson, a truce was reached. Although severely damaged by the IPLO's attacks, the INLA continued to exist. The IPLO, which was heavily involved in drug dealing, was forcibly disbanded by the Provisional IRA in a large scale operation in 1992.

Recent history

In the 2000s and 2010s, the IRSP has been involved in campaigns and political protests, mainly around Belfast and Derry but also in of parts of the Republic of Ireland as well. Some of these protests included the opposition to austerity measures,[12] the Right2Water campaign against water charges,[13] and striking nurses. [14]

In November 2016, after a number of raids on members of the party's homes, the IRSP issued a warning saying the PSNI were "playing with fire". IRSP's Lower Falls representative Michael Kelly claimed that “British security forces risk bringing serious conflict onto the streets” and said that “The Irish Republican Socialist Party has been in existence for over 40 years, in that time we have never tolerated attacks on our membership from any quarter,” The comments drew criticism from UUP MLA Doug Beattie and SDLP Alex Attwood.[15]

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the IRSP launched Republican Socialist Aid, which aimed to distribute PPE to healthcare and essential workers in communities across Ireland at risk of exposure to the virus.[16]

In September 2020 the IRSP started a 'Drop The Rents' campaign,[17] requesting landlords and letting agencies in North Belfast and West Belfast to lower their rent prices to local housing benefit levels and protesting against landlords and letting agencies that would not [18] and that issued threats of eviction.[19] The campaign has achieved some level of success.[20]

During the East Wall protests in November 2022, the IRSP opposed the housing of 380 refugees due to the absence of notice given to residents about the move prior to arrival and the feasibility of using the housing there for a large number of refugees. They said the residents were not opposed to refugees, just the lack of notice and uncertainty of feasibility.[21] This differed to the majority of other groups who opposed any housing of refugees, regardless of notice.[22]

Elections

Northern Ireland Assembly
Election First Preference Vote % Seats ± Government
2022 1,869 0.2% (#11)
0 / 90
 No seats
Local elections
Election First Preference Vote % Seats
1981 3,654 0.5%
2 / 523
2011 2,133 0.3%
0 / 572
2023 825 0.1%
0 / 462

In 1981, party members Gerry Kelly and Sean Flynn won two seats on the Belfast City Council in a joint campaign with the People's Democracy party. Neither councillor served a full term, with one going on the run after being implicated during the supergrass trials[5]

The IRSP put forward five candidates in Northern Ireland local elections, 2011, its first foray into electoral politics in almost 30 years. They failed to secure any seats. Candidate Paul Gallagher of Strabane missed out on a seat by just a single vote. He was originally elected but after a requested recount by the SDLP his election was overturned.[23][24]

The IRSP has explained its lack of participation in elections as due to "very limited" resources.[23]

In 2022 for the first time the IRSP fielded candidates for the Northern Ireland Assembly election.[25] Initially their candidates were rejected by the Electoral Commission, but this was eventually corrected.[26] Candidates were fielded in Belfast West (1,103 first preference votes, 2.5%) and Foyle (766 first preference votes, 1.6%).

Policies and ideology

The IRSP are Marxist–Leninist[3] and Irish republican, seeking the establishment of an all-Ireland "worker's republic". As of 2009, the IRSP stated that their objective will only be achieved exclusively through peaceful and political means, and in 2018 they launched the 'Yes For Unity' campaign, to campaign for a Border Poll on Irish Unity.[27]

The IRSP claim the legacy of Connolly and say their policies are of the same tradition of Connolly. The IRSP also see their own modern policies as the "logical development in the twenty-first century of the programme established under Connolly’s leadership by the Irish Socialist Republican Party".[2]

Physical force Irish republicanism

The IRSP opposes both the Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland Peace Process, The party supports a 'No First Strike' policy, allowing people to see the perceived failure of the peace process for themselves without taking military actions.[28]

As of 11 October 2009, the INLA has ordered an end to the armed struggle,[4] because unlike during the Troubles, the current political stance in Ulster allows the IRSP to contest fairly in new campaigns and local elections, as mentioned in their 2009 statement. INLA admitted to "faults and grievous errors" in their prosecution of the armed struggle, stating that "innocent people were killed and injured" and offering "as revolutionaries" a "sincere and heartfelt apology".[4]

European Union

The IRSP supported Brexit and supports the Republic of Ireland leaving the European Union.[29]

NATO and Russia

During the Russo-Ukrainian War, the IRSP publicly declared their support for the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. It blamed NATO rather than Russia for the conflict and claimed Ukraine was ruled by a "fascist" government. On 25 February 2022, one day after Russia invaded Ukraine, the party re-affirmed its support for the Republics in a social media post in which they called Ukraine a "Nazi regime" and a "NATO puppet". It included a picture of IRSP members posing in front of Free Derry Corner with a Soviet flag and the flag of the Donetsk People's Republic. This was condemned by local SDLP councillors.[30] The party boasted about the INLA's bombing of a radar station on Mount Gabriel, County Cork in 1982, which it said was used by NATO.[31] In August 2022, IRSP members and Russian nationalists staged a protest against the Ukrainian military, outside Dublin's General Post Office. The Irish security services believe the Russian government were involved in organizing the protest.[32]

Broad Front

The IRSP supports the formation of what it calls the "Broad Front" which would bring together all Irish "anti-imperialist forces" to bring about a United Ireland. This would be formed on the basis of the following demands:

  • The United Kingdom must formally renounce all claims of sovereignty in Ireland
  • All British forces in Northern Ireland must be withdrawn, all republican and socialist prisoners must be released, a general amnesty must be granted to republicans for offences committed by them during the Troubles and "repressive legislation" must be replaced by a bill of rights
  • The United Kingdom "must also agree to compensate the Irish People for the exploitation which has already occurred"[2]

Policing

The IRSP is in favour of an All-Ireland, democratically controlled, unarmed police force.[2]

Abstentionism

The IRSP are not abstentionist in principle but they would support abstentionism in certain situations for tactical reasons.[33]

Housing

IRSP believes that the right to a home is a fundamental human right and that the state has a responsibility to deal with homelessness.[5]

Abortion

The party's policy on abortion is that it should be legalised, available on demand and free of charge.[5]

Membership

Party members are often referred to as the "Irps" (pronounced "Erps"). In the late 1970s, Divis Flats in west Belfast became colloquially known as "the planet of the Irps" (a reference to the IRSP and the film Planet of the Apes).[34][35]

Representation

The party is represented in North America by the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America.

List of secretaries

Milestones in the IRSP's history

  • 1975: At the IRSP's inaugural convention, it becomes the first political party in Ireland to support the legalisation of abortion and equal rights for gays and lesbians.
  • 1981: The IRSP wins two seats on the Belfast City Council, and comes close to winning a third. The IRSP runs two candidates, Kevin Lynch and Tony O'Hara, in the Irish parliamentary election as Independent Anti H-Block candidates. Neither candidate wins, but Lynch comes within 300 votes of winning a seat, while O'Hara garnered a respectable number of votes.
  • 1982: Party member Brigid Makowski wins a seat on the Shannon Town Commission.[38]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "'Workers' Republic'. Newsletter, Belfast IRSP. Winter 2017". irsp.ie. Republican Socialist News.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Republican Socialist Programme for Ireland" (PDF). irsp.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017.
  3. 1 2 Ross, F Stuart (2011). Smashing H-block The Rise and Fall of the Popular Campaign Against Criminalization, 1976-1982. Liverpool University Press. p. 182. In 1984, the IRSP publicly declared itself a Marxist–Leninist party
  4. 1 2 3 "UK and Ireland welcome INLA ceasefire Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine", BBC News, 23 August 1998
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Perspectives on the future of Republican Socialism in Ireland" (PDF). irsp.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Morrison, John F. (2015). The Origins and Rise of Dissident Irish Republicanism. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 978-1501309236. This chapter covers the relatively short process which resulted in the division in the Official Republican Movement resulting in the formation of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement (IRSM) which consisted of an armed wing, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and a political wing, the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP)
  7. ↑ Coogan, Tim Pat. The IRA; St. Martin's Griffin; revised & updated edition : 5 January 2002; ISBN 978-0312294168
  8. ↑ Tony Gregory: 1947 – 2009, Irish Left Review, 6 January 2009.
  9. ↑ "Seamus Costello". republican-news.org.
  10. ↑ "Remembering Seamus Costello". Red Fightback. 5 October 2019. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles by David McKittrick, et al. Mainstream Publishing (May 10, 2001); ISBN 184018504X, ISBN 978-1840185041, pp 840-41
  12. ↑ "Cork IRSP attend Post Budget Anti-Austerity March". IRSP. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "A people 'forced onto the streets'". republican-news.org. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "Belfast IRSP Support Striking Health Care Workers Protest at RVH". IRSP. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  15. ↑ Young, Connla (3 November 2016). "IRSP warn police 'playing with fire' after series of house raids on members". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  16. ↑ "Limerick IRSP continue with Republican Socialist Aid initiatives over Christmas". IRSP. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "IRSP Step Up The Drop The Rents Campaign in Belfast". IRSP. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "Drop The Rents! | Last night IRSP activists targeted a property off the Suffolk road as part of our 'Drop the Rents' campaign. This 2 bed apartment was charging well over... | By IRSP Greater Andersonstown Cumann | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "Drop The Rents - Local Landlord Begins Eviction Threats". IRSP. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Drop The Rents Success in Belfast!". IRSP. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "IRSP Dublin on X: "Inner city IRSP members attended a residents'..." Twitter. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  22. ↑ O'Connor, Ciarán (4 December 2022). "Ireland's far-right pushes its 'invasion' propaganda". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  23. 1 2 "IRSP Local Council Election Results". irsp.ie. Republican Socialist News. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  24. ↑ "Mourne District Electoral Area Results" (PDF). Strabane District Council. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  25. ↑ "239 candidates confirmed for Stormont Assembly election". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  26. ↑ "IRSP barred from running in Assembly election". Belfast Media Group. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  27. ↑ Young, Connla (22 April 2019). "IRSP 'committed to political means'". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "What is Irish Republican Socialism?". Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  29. ↑ "IRSP reiterates call for full British, EU and US Military, Economic and Political withdrawal from Ireland at Moscow conference", Republican Socialist News, 26 September 2015
  30. ↑ Barnes, Ciaran (26 February 2022). "Soviet flags 'not in Derry's name' amid war in Ukraine". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  31. ↑ Kula, Adam (4 March 2022). "Socialist republican group blames west for Ukraine war and praises INLA 'NATO' bombing". Belfast News Letter. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  32. ↑ "Kremlin 'staged Ukraine protest in Dublin with republicans'". The Times. 14 August 2022.
  33. ↑ "Interview with Séamus Costello". irsp.ie. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017. When we say that we are not an abstentionist party, what we mean by this is that we are not a party, in principle, committed to abstention. But there are circumstances and conditions under which is might be desirable to abstain and if we felt that it was tactically desirable at any particular point in time, in either the North or the South to abstain from Parliament, then we would do so. That would depend, however, on the circumstances existing at that particular point of time. If a situation existed, for instance, where there was a possibility of large scale dissatisfaction, on the part of the people, with either the 26 County parliament or the 6 County parliament then abstention, on our part would be a legitimate tactic. We are not, however, abstentionist in principle
  34. ↑ "Preventing a return to conflict: A discussion by ex-combatants Archived 8 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine," compiled by Michael Hall, Island Publications, August 2009
  35. ↑ The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party, Brian Hanley and Scott Millar, Penguin Books, ISBN 1-84488-120-2 p. 290
  36. ↑ "IRSP OPPOSE SECOND REFERENDUM: BUT URGE A NO VOTE". irsp.ie. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  37. ↑ "IRSP Political Secretary John Martin's presentation on republican socialism to the IRSP's ideological conference 29–30 May 99". irsp.ie. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  38. ↑ "Shannon Town Commission Local Elections shannon.ie". Archived from the original on 23 June 2008.

Further reading

  • Bernard, Margie. Daughter of Derry: The Story of Brigid Sheils Makowski; iUniverse; 20 January 2009; ISBN 978-1440120008
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.