70 Attend Donegal Meeting On Future of Republicanism And Socialism
More than 70 people attended a meeting on the future of republicanism and socialism in Dungloe, Co Donegal on Saturday evening past (March 8). The meeting, which was organised by local republican activist Micheál Mac Giolla Easbuig, was addressed by civil rights activist Bernadette McAliskey, Éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson and local independent councillor Thomas Pringle.
The format for the gathering at Ionad Tempall Chróine saw each of the three speakers addressing the theme of ‘Are there any Republicans Left?’ before questions and comments were taken from the floor.
In her contribution Bernadette outlined her view of the current state of republicanism in Ireland, drawing a number of historic parallels with the 1916-1921 period. In particular she drew attention to the fact that no one party had sole claim to the title of republicanism - either then or now. Bernadette re-enforced this point by highlighting the fact that James Connolly had never been a member of Sinn Féin and yet no-one would challenge his credentials as a leader of Irish republicanism and socialism.
In the contemporary context Bernadette acknowledged that the claims of parties like Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to be republican had to be accepted at face value – albeit that they represented the narrowest, anti-monarchic form of republicanism. In this regard it was necessary to draw a distinction between those republicans who believed that the issues of national liberation and social liberation were inseparable and those who did not. Similarly a distinction needed to be drawn between those republicans who were willing to accept, and administer, British rule in Ireland and those who were not.
In closing, Bernadette outlined her belief that there was a fundamental difficulty for socialist republicans in aligning themselves with non-socialist republicans or nationalists and that history had repeatedly demonstrated that socialists always come out the worst from such alliances. If socialists are to avoid such damaging alliances in the future they must first examine how they have worked in the past.
Brian Leeson used his speaking time to address the topic of why éirígí was founded and also the theme of ‘what shapes change’ in society. It was under this theme that Brian explained why Éirígí was engaging in political campaigns; believing that such campaigns had the potential to highlight the most glaring examples of injustice in our society and thus galvanise support for a socially-based alternative.
Brian also highlighted that it had taken over a hundred and twenty years for the then revolutionary concept of republicanism to gain widespread active support in Ireland, from its birth in the late 1790s until the post-1916 period. While the battle to gain widespread acceptance and support for the concept of socialism was also being fought out over decades and centuries Brian was upbeat that the inherent logic of social co-operation would ultimately triumph over the illogical concept of social competition.
The last of the three speakers, Thomas Pringle, focused his contribution on how the battle between social and private ownership was being fought out at a local level in Donegal. He drew attention to the introduction of privatisation of a number of county council services including water and sewage treatment. He outlined how the funds used to pay private companies to carry out these services would come at the cost of cutbacks and job losses within other areas.
Following on from Thomas a large number of people asked questions and voiced comment relating to both the speakers contributions and the wider issues raised. Everything from policing to land ownership, from widespread public apathy to the Stormont assembly were raised and discussed in an intelligent, constructive and often humorous manner.
More than two hours after the meeting started Micheál drew it to a close by thanking everyone present for attending and encouraging them all to become active in maximising the No vote in the upcoming Lisbon referendum.
Speaking after the meeting Éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson congratulated those who had organised and taken part in the meeting, ‘Tonight’s meeting was asking the question ‘Are there any Republicans Left?’. If tonight’s turnout is anything to go by the answer to that question must be yes - at least in west Donegal.
‘Roughly seventy people gave up two hours of their Saturday evening to engage in a discussion on where republicanism and socialism in this country are headed. Given that there were people representing many different strands of republicanism present it is a real testament to all concerned that the discussion was as constructive and as comradely as it was.’