Workers Solidarity Movement

The History Department in NUI-Galway is hosting an ‘Irish Socialist Lives’ symposium.

A range of contributors, including leading historians, will describe the lives and consider the ideas of syndicalists, social democrats, trade unionists, agrarian radicals, Christian socialists, Marxists, Chartists, anarchists, and co-operators who worked in Ireland during the past few centuries, and many of whom had Galway connections.Some, like James Larkin, were world-famous; others, like Mary Galway the leader of the Belfast millworkers, had some prominence; others still, like the Árainn-born writer and founder of American Trotskyism, Tomás Ó Flatharta, laboured in relative obscurity.

The event will be held under the auspices of the History Dept, NUI Galway (Friday 13 February), and the Irish Labour History Society (Saturday 14 February).

There will be a concurrent exhibition of historic trade union banners.

Highlights will include:

Friday, 8 pm: Keynote Lecture,
Emmet O’Connor: ‘Big Jim Larkin Hero or Wrecker’

Saturday, 11 a.m: Chips off the old Block?
Niamh Puirseil on James Larkin Jnr and Charlie Maguire on Roddy Connolly

OTHER SUBJECTS WILL INCLUDE
Bobby Burke, The King of the Claddagh, E.T. Craig, Sandy Crawford, Molly Davidson, Jack Dowling, William Paul Dowling, Mary Galway, Matt Harris, Luke Kelly, Gilbert Lynch, Michael McKeown, Catherine Mahon, Constance Markiewicz, Peadar O’Donnell, Maureen O’Carroll, Thomas O’Flaherty, Shane O’Neill, Palladius, William Thompson, Helena Molony, Capt Jack White,

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS WILL INCLUDE
Tony Varley, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh, John Moulden, Theresa Moriarty, Gerard Moran, James Monaghan, Laurence Marley, Christopher Maginn, Alf MacLochlainn, Fintan Lane, Leo Keohane, Michael D. Higgins, Des Geraghty, Dominic Haugh, Penny Duggan, James S. Donnelly Jr, Barry Desmond, John Cunningham, Síle Chuinneagáin, Charles Callan, Mick Brennan, John Arden, Margetta D’Arcy

All are welcome and admission is free.