Radical Politics in Modern Ireland: The Irish Socialist Republican Party, 1896-1904

Description

The first full length study of the Irish Socialist Republican Party uses primary sources to delve into the internal politics and personalities that brought life to this important organisation. The party produced the first regular socialist paper in Ireland the Workers’ Republic, ran candidates in local elections, represented Ireland at the Second International, agitated over issues such as the Boer War and the 1798 commemorations. Politically the ISRP was before its time, putting the call for an independent “Republic” at the centre of its propaganda before Sinn Fein or others had done so. The political significance of the organisation led by James Connolly is also viewed in both the international and national sphere.

The legacy of the ISRP was to have an impact on the left-wing and republican movements in Ireland for many decades following its demise in 1904.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. The Early Years, 1896-98
Prelude to the ISRP
‘Six Working Men Assisted at its Birth’
The ISRP’s Programme, 1896
The 1798 Commemoration and the Anti-Jubilee Protest

2. The Class Struggle in Practice, 1898-1900
The Worker’s Republic, the ‘Missionary Organ’
The ISRP and the Wider Irish Labour Movement
The Boer War, ISRP and ‘Anti-Impreialism’

3. Elections and Beyond 1900-02
The ISRP and Elections
The International Aspect of the ISRP’s Life

4. The ISRP on the Issues
Religion
Land
Nationalism

5. The Demise of the ISRP, 1902-03
‘Like the Loss of a Child’
Revolution versus Reform
Could the Party Ever Have Grown?

6. The Legacy
Life After the ISRP
The Shadow of the ISRP on the Labour Movement
Conclusion

Radical Politics in Modern Ireland: The Irish Socialist Republican Party 1896-1904

Selection of Book Reviews:

“This illuminating and insightful book is dominated by characters that were
imbued with vigour, intellect and a commitment to an improvement in the
lives of working class people. This is not a partisan account, but a
balanced probing of the rise and fall of the ISRP, and the result has filled
a major gap in our knowledge and understanding of Irish labour history in
the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.David Lynch has told their
story lucidly, originally and fairly, and in the process rectified an
unjustifiable neglect of some of the pioneers of modern socialism.”
Dr Diarmaid Ferriter
(Author of Judging Dev: A Reassessment of the Life and Legacy of Eamon de
Valera and The Transformation of Ireland: 1900-2000)

“David Lynch has made a significant contribution to the study of Irish
working-class political history with this book.This lucid and engaging study
should be read by all those seriously interested in the political history of
the Irish working class. It is a book containing many stimulating and sharp
insights.”
History Ireland

“Radical Politics in Modern Ireland provides a long-needed full-length
treatment of an important experiment in Irish revolutionary history.
The book, which offers both a chronological and topical narrative, traces
the ISRP through its short eight-year life…..Lynch tries to be fair to the
lesser lights in the party, though none is as interesting or as important as
Connolly….The author makes use of important primary sources. A fine book.”
Irish Democrat

“David Lynch’s fine book is a detailed study of the Irish Socialist
Republican Party (ISRP). … again this is a fine book, essential reading
for anyone interested in the Irish struggle and the left.”
Socialist Review

“David Lynch is to be commended for making a significant scholarly
contribution on the topic of Ireland’s socialist history.”
Political Studies Review

“David Lynch tells their (ISRP) story in this fine book, essential reading
for anyone interested in the history of the period.”
Journal of Canadian Irish Studies

“David Lynch has undoubtedly made a worthwhile contribution to both the
biography of James Connolly and the historiography of Irish socialism…this
is a fine book. The ISRP was an important party and one worthy of such close
study.”
Scottish Left Review

“A valuable addition to the history of the working-class movement.”
Socialist Standard

About the Author

David Lynch (35) is an award winning journalist and author with a wide range of full time and freelance experience in regional, national and
international press. Among others he has reported for RTE Radio’s Morning
Ireland and Today with Pat Kenny, The Sunday Business Post, Village
Magazine, Magill, The Leinster Leader, Daily Ireland, The Journalist, and
The Blizzard.
He has worked in the occupied Palestinian territories and in the wider
Middle East. He recently spent a year in Cairo, reporting on the post
revolutionary turmoil and the Egyptian elections.
In 2009 he published his second book ‘A Divided Paradise: An Irishman in the
Holy Land’ (New Island Books) described as “An excellent collection of
memories intertwined with political analyses and history” by the Digest of
Middle East Studies.
He has covered everything from sport, politics, the arts, courts and is a
former member of the press gallery in Dáil Éireann. Currently based between
Cairo and Dublin he is working on both fiction and non-fiction projects.