éirígí Tir Chonaill

Filleadh an Chonghailigh

26/07/2010

(English version follows)

Márcáileann inniu, an 26ú Iúil, comóradh céad bliain fillidh Shéamuis Uí Chonghaile, gníomhaíoch, réabhlóidí agus duine de na smaointeoirí sóisialacha ba cháiliúla in Éirinn, ar ais go hÉireann. D’fhill An Conghaileach, a chaith blianta roimhe sin i Meiriceá áit ina raibh sé bainteach le gluaiseachtaí sóisialacha iomadúla agus a bhunaigh sé Cónaidhm Sóisialach na hÉireann i Nua Eabhrac, ar Éire ag tuirlingt i nDoire i rith ama le corraíl tionsclaíoch agus sóisialta a bhí ag dul i méid.

Bhí Séamus Ó Conghaile, ón am a d’fhill sé go dtí a bhasú ag na Briotánaigh i 1916, ina phríomhinspioráid sa pholaitíocht sóisialach in Éirinn, agus é a bheith gníomhach sa cheardchumannachas le Ceardchumann Oibrithe Iompair agus Ilsaothar na hÉireann, bainteach le Glasáil Amach Bhaile Átha Cliath agus lena eagraíocht féin d’Arm Saoránach na hÉireann.

Aon chéad bliain ón lá fíor thábhachtach sin a bhfaca neartú polaitíochta sóisialach Éireannach, arís eile, buíochas le saint chaipitleach agus ionsaithe na ngnóthaí móra, faigheann Éire í féin arís eile i lár neamhchinnteachta, dífhostaíochta leanúnach, agus oll-éagothroime aicmeach. Arís eile tá na daoine ag scairt amach i gcomhair athrú agus ní féidir leis an athrú sin teacht ach i bhfoirm polaitíochta sóisialach amháin.

Ní féidir linn comóradh níos fearr a bheith againn do Sheámus Ó Conghaile inniu ach tríd tiomnú do bhealach na polaitíochta sóisialacha agus Poblacht Daonlathach Sóisialach nua uile-Éireannach a chruthú bunaithe ar phrionsabail flaitheas, daonlathas, saoirse, cheartas, chomhionnas, phobal agus dlúthpháirtíocht idirnáisiúnta.

Is féidir linne, na daoine, difríocht a dhéanamh tríd eagrú inár bpobail féin, san áit oibre agus ar na sráideanna, tríd caipitleachas agus impiriúlachas a fhriotú. Mar a dúirt Séamus Ó Conghaile é féin, “Creideann muid fós go bhfuil streachailt na hÉireann ar son saoirse cuid den ghluaiseacht suas domhanda d’oibrithe an domhain, agus creideann muid fós go n-iompraíonn fuascailt an lucht oibre ann deireadh le tíorántacht go léir – náisiúnta, polaitiúil agus sóisialta.”

The Return of Connolly

26/07/2010

Today, 26^th July 2010, marks the one hundredth anniversary of the return to Ireland of James Connolly, activist, revolutionary and one of Irelands most noted socialist thinkers. Connolly, who had spent the previous number of years in America where he was involved in numerous socialist movements and founded the Irish Socialist Federation in New York, returned to Ireland landing in Derry during a time of growing industrial and social unrest.

From the time of his return to his execution by the British in 1916, James Connolly was a leading light in socialist politics in Ireland, being active in trade unionism with the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, involved in the Dublin Lock Out and his organisation of the Irish Citizens Army.

One hundred years on from that momentous day which saw a strengthening of Irish socialist politics, once again, thanks to capitalist greed and the ravages of big business, Ireland finds itself again in the midst of uncertainty, spiraling unemployment and gross class inequalities. Once again the people are crying out for change and that change can only come in the form of socialist politics.

No better commemoration can we have for James Connolly today than to commit to the path of socialist politics and bring about the creation of a new all-Ireland Democratic Socialist Republic based on the principles of sovereignty, democracy, liberty, justice, equality, community and international solidarity.

We the people can make a difference by organising in our communities, in the workplace and on the streets, and by resisting capitalism and imperialism. As James Connolly himself said, “We still believe that the struggle of Ireland for freedom is part of the world-wide upward movement of the toilers of the earth, and we still believe that the emancipation of the working class carries within it the end of all tyranny – national, political and social.”