DOCSLIB.ORG

Memories of Michael Mcinerney

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Memories of Michael Mcinerney Memories of MICHAEL t the memorial ser- postcard". vice for Michael We were also greatly influenced by Mclnerney, held in By Malachy Gray the writings and speeches of Peader January 1980, in O'Donnell and Sean Murray, who were Trinity College, ped to listen, as the speaker gave trying to apply the essence of Con- Dublin, it was testimony. nolly's teachings to current problems. stated that he was We decided there and then to shout We had welcomed the short ap- a saint. The the odds as well as the Salvation Army. pearance of the magazine Ireland To- speaker was Conor Cruise O'Brien. I After all, if we could not save sinners day and the trenchant anti-fascism ex- could not restrain a smile at that were we not trying to save Ireland? pressed by young men like Charlie description. If Mick could have heard, Away we went and in no time at all Donnelly and Donat O'Donnell. he would have let loose a gale of there was a crowd of several hundred. We were young men in a hurry to laughter at the very idea. He was a man The local Connolly Association lads bring about political and social change, who could see the humour of things. had leafleted the pubs, clubs and trade though I had to advise Mick that great But the first socialist saint - the very union branches in the district to some care was essential in advocating Con- idea of an lrish St. Michael! purpose. We had a good reception, nolly's ideas in Belfast. It had been a During a serious illness some years sold all our literature and got a fair salutary experience for me to speak in ago, the woman from next door called collection. We also recruited some new public at the Custom House steps and to see flick. She told him that the members. Mick was delighted, and he to learn how to deal with a deeply neighbours had arranged for a mass to insisted on we going back to his flat in divided community. be said for a speedy recovery or a Islington, North London, where we Both Protestant Action and Catholic happy death. "Well", said Mick, talked and laughed and argued all night Action were blunt to the point of ex- "please concentrate on the first and long. Michael Mclnerney was never a treme rudeness in questioning the forget about the second wish". drinking man, so much to my regret, legality of my parentage, along with He was a man who expressed a we drank only tea, but we got to know the advice that I should take the shor- passionate indignation against all that each other. test possible route to Moscow. And was wrong and unjust in the lreland of We found out how much we had in these were only some of the milder his day. In short, he was a warm and common. Limerick and the Falls Road suggestions l generous person - too inclined in Belfast were then about the most London and England were a dif- sometimes to overpraise. Maybe that is Catholic strongholds in Ireland. Both ferent type of experience and not a bad fault, for we have always had places were strongly influenced by the challenge. In the Connolly Association an abundance of begrudgers in this Redemptorist confraternities. Well it was a question of volunteering to do country. That is the worst I could say organised annual missions and regula~ the work. Mick was general secretary, about Mick. public processions were held, tc treasurer, editor of the monthly paper I first met Michael Mclnerney in demonstrate devotion to their concep- lrish Freedom (later to become the London towards the end of the 1930s. tion of Christianity. We had both reac- lrish Democrat) and the main public We had corresponded before I left ted strongly to sermons on hell fire and speaker. I moved into the flat and took Belfast and, shortly after I arrived at the damnation, coupled with denunciations over the runninj of the paper and so centre of the Empire, he wrote inviting of communism, socialism and free love, gave Mick a chance to breathe. We me to speak at a Connolly Association at a time of mass unemployment, mis- were joined by Jim Prendergast from meeting in Wealdstone in West Lon- ery, poverty and emigration in both Dublin. The sparks began to fly as Jim, don. The meeting was held at a street parts of Ireland. in so many ways like Brendan Behan, corner on a cold damp Saturday night. The writings of James Connolly had added a new dimension to our digs in At the appointed time there was a fired our minds with new ideas and Islington. vacant platform, the chairman, Mick ideals. Our guiding thought was Con- lrish boys and girls, who came and myself to open the proceedings - nolly's dictum, "Ireland without her mainly from the rural areas, were and no one else, not a supporter, or people means nothing to me". For a cruelly exploited on the building sites, even a heckler in sight. Mick generation after 19 1 6, Connolly was and in the bars, hotels and restaurants. apologised profusely - he was nervous, praised as a great patriot, while his The invasion of the lrish nurses was yet as he had just had all his teeth extrac- life's work for socialism and trade un- to come. Long hours and low wages ted, and he whispered: "If anyone ionism was conveniently forgotten or were the constant complaints we shouts gummy at me I'll collapse". Just played down - even by people in the received. We began to campaign, par- then, we noticed the Salvation Army at labour movement. As our good friend ticularly through the Transport and a street corner, further down the road. Desmond Ryan wrote at the time, General Workers Union, for the Not a solitary sinner ~aused,or stop- "James Connolly was embalmed on a organisation of these thousands of P C young people. Domhnall Mac Amhlaigh ments and controversies at that time, bers in Northern Ireland. During this has written elsewhere of the relatively we attracted some distinguished con- period Mick was appointed editor of high wages earned by the lrish during tributors to our paper. Liam O'Flaherty, the weekly paper Unity and industrial the war and post-war years. But in the Sean O'Casey, Jim Phelan, Ben organiser of the party. I served as chair- 'thirties, low wages were the order of Farrington, Peader O'Donnell, and John man of the industrial committee. the day. de Courcy Ireland all wrote articles and Week after week, the paper stressed We had to overcohe the hesitations gave us financial assistance. It was that the ending of the war through the and suspicions of young people who Desmond Ryan, above all, who made a defeat of fascism would bring greater had been warned repeatedly by the lot of this possible. To have Patrick democratic rights for the ordinary peo- bishops to beware of communist and Pearse's secretary and historian, and a ple, and that the building of a strong socialist agitators. However, we per- man who was also the historian of trade union movement would be the sisted in our encouragement of the Connolly, as our mentor and regular essential element in safeguarding the lrish immigrants to join the trade union featuie writer, was a filip to our rights of the workers. But, given the movement. Many years later, Frank amateur journalism. There is no doubt political background of Northern Cousins, then general secretary of the that Mick developed then the skills that Ireland, it was a daunting task for the TGWU, remarked to me how much he was later to display in the lrish labour movement to try to work pleasure 'and interest he took in the Times. towards these objectives. large numbers of delegates from all We made a serious political mistake The courageous actions of the un- parts of Britian with lrish names and in having our paper printed on the employed workers, known as the Out- accents, who spoke at union con- premises of the British Communist door Relief Workers' Strike, in 1932, ferences. Party's Daily Worker. Despite our had created a great degree of unity Michael Mclnerney was prominent best efforts to attract the exiled Irish, among hungry Protestants and in the Railway Clerks' Association, and we found it difficult to overcome the Catholics. The Unionist Government was able to make contact with many taunts of being a communist front received a real scare. But by 1935, af- trade union leaders in London, the organisation. There was a crying need ter consistent sectarian propaganda a Midlands, Lancashire and Scotland. It for our type of activity, but the CPGB pogrom atmosphere was created in was work that took a long time to bring was the only political party to give any Northern Ireland. The old slogans results, but the benefits obtained practical support. It is important to triumphed as workers fought workers. proved to have lasting value. Mick was record that individual members and Trade union organisation, weakened by the inspiration and driving force in our branches of the British Labour Party mass unemployment, was further crip- quest for trade union organisation. were also of great assistance, par- pled. This was indeed the sorry Political action, however, was our ticularly Dr Lena Jeger, who later background in which we had to main concern. The IRA bombing cam- became M.P. for St. Pancras. operate and where Mick showed his paign in Britain commenced.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Irish Diaspora in Britain & America
    Reflections on 1969 Lived Experiences & Living history (Discussion 6) The Irish Diaspora in Britain & America: Benign or Malign Forces? compiled by Michael Hall ISLAND 123 PAMPHLETS 1 Published January 2020 by Island Publications 132 Serpentine Road, Newtownabbey BT36 7JQ © Michael Hall 2020 [email protected] http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/islandpublications The Fellowship of Messines Association gratefully acknowledge the assistance they have received from their supporting organisations Printed by Regency Press, Belfast 2 Introduction The Fellowship of Messines Association was formed in May 2002 by a diverse group of individuals from Loyalist, Republican and other backgrounds, united in their realisation of the need to confront sectarianism in our society as a necessary means of realistic peace-building. The project also engages young people and new citizens on themes of citizenship and cultural and political identity. Among the different programmes initiated by the Messines Project was a series of discussions entitled Reflections on 1969: Lived Experiences & Living History. These discussions were viewed as an opportunity for people to engage positively and constructively with each other in assisting the long overdue and necessary process of separating actual history from some of the myths that have proliferated in communities over the years. It was felt important that current and future generations should hear, and have access to, the testimonies and the reflections of former protagonists while these opportunities still exist. Access to such evidence would hopefully enable younger generations to evaluate for themselves the factuality of events, as opposed to some of the folklore that passes for history in contemporary society.
    [Show full text]
  • 1/- D E M O C R
    MOVING FOR 1/- A UNITED DEMOCRAT No. 289 SEPTEMBER 1968 IRELAND APPEAL TO MANY ORGANISATIONS LONDON IRISH MARCH People of six counties at end of tether FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ^J NLESS something is done soon to end the injustices Which exist in British occupied Ireland there is going to be an explosion there. Cheers from onlookers The people are getting to the This is the message of the great in Camden have undertaken to end of their tether, with end- meeting and parade from Coal- join with the Association in poster island to Dungannon on Saturday, less unemployment, low wages, parades. They see the struggle for August 24th, 1968, a date to be QNLOOKERS the pavements when members of the shortage of housing, all backed on cheered remembered. Irish independence as on a par ^ Connolly Association, Clann na hEireann and the Republican up by religious discrimination, with the struggle against the dis- Party walked from Manette Street, Charing Cross Road, to Marble gerrymandering and police dic- This is the message that has graceful war in Vietnam. Arch to demand the introduction of normal democracy into the tatorship. come from Ireland to the Connolly six counties of north east Ireland- Association in London, and to which the Association intends to CONFERENCE The parade took place on Sun- react as its duty is. In order to get the new campaign day, July 28th, and was followed under way Central London Con- by a meeting in Hyde Park, at which the speakers were Sean Red- INITIATIVE nolly Association is calling a con- ference on September 11th of mond, General Secretary of the Central London Branch of the Connolly Association; Desmond interested organisations in the two Association is to take the initia- Greaves; Robert Heatley and Jack central boroughs of Camden and tive in a new campaign which it Henry, the building workers' ste- Islington.
    [Show full text]
  • Miscellaneous Notes on Republicanism and Socialism in Cork City, 1954–69
    MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON REPUBLICANISM AND SOCIALISM IN CORK CITY, 1954–69 By Jim Lane Note: What follows deals almost entirely with internal divisions within Cork republicanism and is not meant as a comprehensive outline of republican and left-wing activities in the city during the period covered. Moreover, these notes were put together following specific queries from historical researchers and, hence, the focus at times is on matters that they raised. 1954 In 1954, at the age of 16 years, I joined the following branches of the Republican Movement: Sinn Féin, the Irish Republican Army and the Cork Volunteers’Pipe Band. The most immediate influence on my joining was the discovery that fellow Corkmen were being given the opportunity of engag- ing with British Forces in an effort to drive them out of occupied Ireland. This awareness developed when three Cork IRA volunteers were arrested in the North following a failed raid on a British mil- itary barracks; their arrest and imprisonment for 10 years was not a deterrent in any way. My think- ing on armed struggle at that time was informed by much reading on the events of the Tan and Civil Wars. I had been influenced also, a few years earlier, by the campaigning of the Anti-Partition League. Once in the IRA, our initial training was a three-month republican educational course, which was given by Tomas Óg MacCurtain, son of the Lord Mayor of Cork, Tomas MacCurtain, who was murdered by British forces at his home in 1920. This course was followed by arms and explosives training.
    [Show full text]
  • Irish Democrat." He Regards As Tripartite
    CHRISTMAS BOOK ITS A CORK NUMBER IRISH 9 DEMOCRAT MAN FOR No. 267 DECEMB ER 1966 CAPTAIN T. O'NEILL DUBLIN! REPLIES TO THE C.A. WHY LEMASS RESIGNED But- he gives little away £APTAIN TERENCE O'NEILL, the six-county Prime Minister, NOT MUCH CHANGE EXPECTED in a letter to Mr. Sean Redmond, General Secretary of the Connolly Association, denies that he lias urged the majority to 'HE long drawn-out in-fighting and horse-trading is over and a Cork man now sits ignore their responsibilities to the minority. as Taoiseach in Leinster House. This is what the Con- genious." He rests his While no great changes of policy are expected, nolly Association charged argument for the retention it is being said that the new Cork man could not him with in a letter sent of partition on the 1925 do much worse than those from other counties who to him on October 26th, agreement which Mr. Cos- have preceded him. which was published in grave signed on behalf of full in the last issue of the the Irish Free State, which The team is substantially and a half, "Posts and Tele- Mr. Lemass's, but re-shuffled. "Irish Democrat." he regards as tripartite. graphs and Transport and Mr. Haughey will no Power," but this may shortly Apart from this he gives In his last paragraph he longer be plagued by the be made one under the title little away. says: "Between your out- militant farmers, as he re- of "Communications." He refuses to accept the look and mine there is places Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Official Irish Republicanism: 1962-1972
    Official Irish Republicanism: 1962-1972 By Sean Swan Front cover photo: Detail from the front cover of the United Irishman of September 1971, showing Joe McCann crouching beneath the Starry Plough flag, rifle in hand, with Inglis’ baker in flames in the background. This was part of the violence which followed in reaction to the British government’s introduction of internment without trial on 9 August 1971. Publication date 1 February 2007 Published By Lulu ISBN 978-1-4303-0798-3 © Sean Swan, 2006, 2007 The author can be contacted at [email protected] Contents Acknowledgements 6 Chapter 1. Introduction 7 Chapter 2. Context and Contradiction 31 Chapter 3. After the Harvest 71 Chapter 4. 1964-5 Problems and Solutions 119 Chapter 5. 1966-1967: Control and 159 Reaction Chapter 6: Ireland as it should be versus Ireland as it is, January 1968 to August 203 1969 Chapter 7. Defending Stormont, Defeating the EEC August 1969 to May 283 1972 Chapter 8. Conclusion 361 Appendix 406 Bibliography 413 Acknowledgements What has made this book, and the thesis on which it is based, possible is the access to the minutes and correspondence of Sinn Fein from 1962 to 1972 kindly granted me by the Ard Comhairle of the Workers’ Party. Access to the minutes of the Wolfe Tone Society and the diaries of C. Desmond Greaves granted me by Anthony Coughlan were also of tremendous value and greatly appreciated. Seamus Swan is to be thanked for his help with translation. The staff of the Linen Hall Library in Belfast, especially Kris Brown, were also very helpful.
    [Show full text]
  • 2001-; Joshua B
    The Irish Labour History Society College, Dublin, 1979- ; Francis Devine, SIPTU College, 1998- ; David Fitzpat- rick, Trinity College, Dublin, 2001-; Joshua B. Freeman, Queen’s College, City Honorary Presidents - Mary Clancy, 2004-; Catriona Crowe, 2013-; Fergus A. University of New York, 2001-; John Horne, Trinity College, Dublin, 1982-; D’Arcy, 1994-; Joseph Deasy, 2001-2012; Barry Desmond, 2013-; Francis Joseph Lee, University College, Cork, 1979-; Dónal Nevin, Dublin, 1979- ; Cor- Devine, 2004-; Ken Hannigan, 1994-; Dónal Nevin, 1989-2012; Theresa Mori- mac Ó Gráda, University College, Dublin, 2001-; Bryan Palmer, Queen’s Uni- arty, 2008 -; Emmet O’Connor, 2005-; Gréagóir Ó Dúill, 2001-; Norah O’Neill, versity, Kingston, Canada, 2000-; Henry Patterson, University Of Ulster, 2001-; 1992-2001 Bryan Palmer, Trent University, Canada, 2007- ; Bob Purdie, Ruskin College, Oxford, 1982- ; Dorothy Thompson, Worcester, 1982-; Marcel van der Linden, Presidents - Francis Devine, 1988-1992, 1999-2000; Jack McGinley, 2001-2004; International Institute For Social History, Amsterdam, 2001-; Margaret Ward, Hugh Geraghty, 2005-2007; Brendan Byrne, 2007-2013; Jack McGinley, 2013- Bath Spa University, 1982-2000. Vice Presidents - Joseph Deasy, 1999-2000; Francis Devine, 2001-2004; Hugh Geraghty, 2004-2005; Niamh Puirséil, 2005-2008; Catriona Crowe, 2009-2013; Fionnuala Richardson, 2013- An Index to Saothar, Secretaries - Charles Callan, 1987-2000; Fionnuala Richardson, 2001-2010; Journal of the Irish Labour History Society Kevin Murphy, 2011- & Assistant Secretaries - Hugh Geraghty, 1998-2004; Séamus Moriarty, 2014-; Theresa Moriarty, 2006-2007; Séan Redmond, 2004-2005; Fionnuala Richardson, Other ILHS Publications, 2001-2016 2011-2012; Denise Rogers, 1995-2007; Eddie Soye, 2008- Treasurers - Jack McGinley, 1996-2001; Charles Callan, 2001-2002; Brendan In September, 2000, with the support of MSF (Manufacturing, Science, Finance – Byrne, 2003-2007; Ed.
    [Show full text]
  • Trotskyists Debate Ireland Workers’ Liberty Volume 3 No 45 October 2014 £1 Reason in Revolt Trotskyists Debate Ireland 1939, Mid-50S, 1969
    Trotskyists debate Ireland Workers’ Liberty Volume 3 No 45 October 2014 £1 www.workersliberty.org Reason in revolt Trotskyists debate Ireland 1939, mid-50s, 1969 1 Workers’ Liberty Trotskyists debate Ireland Introduction: freeing Marxism from pseudo-Marxist legacy By Sean Matgamna “Since my early days I have got, through Marx and Engels, Slavic peoples; the annihilation of Jews, gypsies, and god the greatest sympathy and esteem for the heroic struggle of knows who else. the Irish for their independence” — Leon Trotsky, letter to If nonetheless Irish nationalists, Irish “anti-imperialists”, Contents Nora Connolly, 6 June 1936 could ignore the especially depraved and demented charac - ter of England’s imperialist enemy, and wanted it to prevail In 1940, after the American Trotskyists split, the Shachtman on the calculation that Catholic Nationalist Ireland might group issued a ringing declaration in support of the idea of gain, that was nationalism (the nationalism of a very small 2. Introduction: freeing Marxism from a “Third Camp” — the camp of the politically independent part of the people of Europe), erected into absolute chauvin - revolutionary working class and of genuine national liberation ism taken to the level of political dementia. pseudo-Marxist legacy, by Sean Matgamna movements against imperialism. And, of course, the IRA leaders who entered into agree - “What does the Third Camp mean?”, it asked, and it ment with Hitler represented only a very small segment of 5. 1948: Irish Trotskyists call for a united replied: Irish opinion, even of generally anti-British Irish opinion. “It means Czech students fighting the Gestapo in the The presumption of the IRA, which literally saw itself as Ireland with autonomy for the Protestant streets of Prague and dying before Nazi rifles in the class - the legitimate government of Ireland, to pursue its own for - rooms, with revolutionary slogans on their lips.
    [Show full text]
  • Register for the DENNIS CLARK PAPERS ADDITIONS 1863-1994
    Register for the DENNIS CLARK PAPERS ADDITIONS 1863-1994 (Span dates 1910-1993) MSS 177 (M79-23, M80-32, M90-36, M93-22, 2001-61) PG 137 & Unprocessed Photographs, Negatives, and Slides 9.7 linear feet Larisa Repin Project Archival Processor for The Balch Institute of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania March 2002 The Balch Institute of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 This project was made possible with a generous grant from John C. Haas DENNIS CLARK PAPERES ADDITIONS MSS 177 (M79-23, M80-32, M90-36, M93-22, 2001-61) 19 Hollinger boxes of mss. 1 oversize box 1 folder oversize materials 1 Hollinger box of unprocessed photographs, slides, and negatives TABLE OF CONTENTS page Provenance 1 Biographical notes 2 Scope and content 4 Record series descriptions 5 Record box list 7 Series I: Professional & Organizational Materials 7 Subseries A: Writings, Speeches & Other Written Materials 7 Subseries B: Research Materials 7 Subseries C: General Materials 10 Series II: Personal Papers 14 Series III: Unprocessed Materials 15 Index of Subjects and Correspondents 16 List of newspapers 31 Page 1 DENNIS CLARK PAPERS ADDITIONS MSS 177 (M79-23, M80-32, M90-36, M93-22, 2001-61) PROVENANCE Additions to the Dennis Clark papers were given to the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies by Dennis Clark himself from 1979 to 1993. The papers came in as many accessions, such as M79-23, M80-32, M83-22, M84-08, M87-20, M88-66, M89-18, M90-36, M91- 53, M93-22, 2001-61, some of which were processed in March 2002 by Larisa Repin, archival processor for the Balch Institute of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
    [Show full text]
  • In This Issue
    In this issue Page 2 - HILLSBOROUGH Page 3 - IRISH STEREOTYPES Page 4 - DONAL McGRATH DECEMBER 1988 "SOp- Page 5 - TABLE TALK Page 6 - IRISH SONGS Page 7 - BOOK REVIEWS Page 8 - DONAL MacAMHLAIGH Release Irish political prisoners say Russians DAVID Mellor Minister of Health of the Tory Goverment has recently been to Czechoslovkia where be was. reprimanding the Czechs for their "Human Rights' record. Before that Mr Mellor was lecturing the Israelis for doing on the West Bank what British has been doing in Northern Ireland for HELP END twenty years. Mrs Thatcher the most reactionary head of state in Europe has been BANKS BLAMED FOR EMIGRATION THE MISERY opposing the Soviet proposal to hold the next Human Rights Conference in WHILE Mr Hume MEP has been ranting and railing about the advantages of 1992 and Mr THE money spent in Northern Ireland Moscow, in 1991. She says that the by the British Government is wasted. Russians must conform to the Helsinki Taylor Unionist and MEP has been making hysterical attacks on the 26, Counties Bishop The way it is spent is causing more principles on Human Rights which she misery, deaths and destruction every claims they have not yet done. The Murphy of Cork and Ross has been taking a sober look at realities behind the Common Market Russians have replied by drawing ballyhoo. year. It causes young people to do attention to the lack of "Human desperate deeds in seeking remedies. Rights" in Northern Ireland. "Is our country to become merely the retiremept home for burnt-out capitalists from Europe?" the Bishop Money spent in promoting Connolly Gennady Gerasimov the Foreign aSked.
    [Show full text]
  • Disband the Specials' They
    easier number CENTRAL EDITION DISBAND THE THEY KILLED SPECIALS' ARTHUR LEONARD KEEP UP PROTESTS! « Connolly Assoc'n call for Unity CO far as is known no disciplinary measures ** have been carried out against the 'B' Specials who were responsible for the death of Arhtur Leonard. Storm of protest rises on a world-wide scale—but the Stormont Government stonewalls all criticisms, dis- regards all representations. Therefore the protests must be stepped up. Arthur Leonard was bringing a friend home from a dance, and gave two young girls a lift just before he saw a blockage in the main road. According to one of the girls, shots were fired as RESOLUTIONS he turned into a side road; he brought his van Resolutions along these lines were passed in to a stop, and shots continued. Later he was Manchester, London, Nottingham and Birming- found dead over the steering wheel. ham; at the Acton repair depot of the London The "B" Specials claim he refused to stop—so Transport Authority a hundred and fifty they shot, instead of taking their car and pur- workers signed a petition demanding the dis- suing him. bandmcnt of the "B" Specials and a thorough BUT—they admit the van came to a standstill enquiry into the whole affair. A deputation of steadily and in a normal manner. workers was elected to visit the House of Com- AND—medical evidence is that Leonard suffered mons, led by Mr. Eamonn MacLoughlin, Gn injuries which Tuesday, March 29th, and make representations (1) blew away part of his brain; to friendly M P.s.
    [Show full text]
  • Class Against Class the Communist
    CLASS AGAINST CLASS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF GREAT BRITAIN IN THE THIRD PERIOD, 1927-1932. By Matthew Worley, BA. Thesis submitted to the University of Nottingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, August 1998. C TEXT BOUND INTO THE SPINE Acknowledgments This thesis would not have beenpossible without the guidance, encouragementand advice of my supervisorChris Wrigley. Professor Wrigley's encyclopaedicknowledge and ever expanding library madethis project a joy to complete.Closer to home, the loving support and patient encouragementof Louise Aikman kept me focusedand inspired whenever the pressuresof study appearedtoo much to bear. Thanks are also due to Chris, Pete and Simon (for a lifetime's friendship), Scott King (for welcome distractions),Dominic and Andrea (for help and camaraderie), Pete and Kath (for holidays), John (for Manchester),my family (for everything) and Toby Wolfe. ii Contents Abstract iv Abbreviations A Introduction: The Communist Party of Great Britain I in the Third Period Chapter One: A Party in Transition 15 Chapter Two: Towards the Third Period 45 Chapter Three: The New Line 82 Chapter Four: The Party in Crisis 113 Chapter Five: Isolation and Reappraisal 165 Chapter Six: A Communist Culture 206 Chapter Seven: Crisis and Reorganisation 236 Conclusion: The Third Period Reassessed 277 Bibliography 281 iii Abstract This thesis provides an analysisof communismin Britain between 1927 and 1932.In theseyears, the CommunistParty of Great Britain (CPGB) embarkedupon a'new period' of political struggle around the concept of class against class.The increasingly draconianmeasures of the Labour Party and trade union bureaucracybetween 1924 and 1927 significantly restricted the scopeof communist influence within the mainstreamlabour As movement.
    [Show full text]
  • Grain Boys Get Half Site Money
    REMEMBER IT IS OUR "FIGHTING FUND" THAT KEEPS US GOING £ l'.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-^.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-... AND SEND CONTRIBUTIONS TO \ 13 LAMBS CONDUIT PASSAGE, W.C.I J THE IRISH E HOC RAT No^ 90 (N.S.) JUNE, 1952 Fourpence BIRMINGHAM WILL HAVE 'IRISH WEEK1 fN JULY from JOHN GRIFFIN COR eight days in early July, Irish organisations in Britain's •T second city, and most important industrial centre, are to pace Ireland's case before the public by any and ftVery means available to them. Principal event will be a meeting on or Meetings about July 2nd, to protest against religious As its contribution to the occasion the intolerance with which that date-is un- Connolly Association has planned a series happily associated. of close on a dozen public meetings, lec- SPRINGTIME IN CO. MAYO tures, poster parades and mass sales of the ("Irish Democrat" photograph) "Irish Democrat." 1APT. H. HARRISON The demand for a united, independent Ireland to be linked with a policy of en- lS LONDON TIMES' couraging irishmen te fight within the GRAIN BOYS GET HALF ranks of the British Trade Union and LYING 'MEA CULPA' Labour movement to secure the solution of Is 85th year, Captain Henry Harrison, their spedal-problems-as part of the SITE MONEY formerly Charles Stewart Parnell's struggle of the working class in this coun- te secretary, has won what may be try..'-;.. * A "Irish Democrat" Reporter red as the greatest triumph of his Prominent trade unionists are backing the move. OUR thousand Mac Alpine workers on the Isle of Grain (Kent) has compelled the august London F oil refinery site, have won an hour site money, following ips" to eat its words—of 60 years ago! History of the "Times," wMeh hasj negotiations with the Civil Engineering Construction Conciliation been published, contained no Board.
    [Show full text]