To those who are on the look out for a detailed introduction to the life and works of Connolly, there are surely few better place to make a start ... Essential reading.' Irish Democrat'An easy, short and informative biography of the activism of the man who spent his whole adult life in the cause of worker's emancipation.' Irish World'We owe [the editor], and Pluto Press, a debt of thanks for making the works of one of Ireland's most remarkable political thinkers, writers and activists, more widely available.' Camden New Journal'The appearance in print of any of James Connolly's writings is very much to be welcomed ... A useful introduction to Connolly's particular brand of socialism.' Irish Studies ReviewOn 12 May 1916, James Connolly was executed by the British for his part in the Irish Easter Rising. A Marxist theoretician, historian, trade union organiser and revolutionary, he was a prolific writer. He is regarded as a founding father of the modern Irish state in spite of its rejection of his political ideals. Yet Connolly's teachings have had a profound affect on recent generations of Irish nationalists and socialists, especially in the struggle in the North of Ireland.This highly regarded edition of Connolly's writings draws together some of Connolly's most representative work and provides an accessible introduction to one of the major socialist thinkers of the twentieth century. It is now reissued with a new preface by the editor.
Considered by many Ireland's most important revolutionary, James Connolly devoted his life to struggles against exploitation, oppression, and imperialism. Active in workers' movements in the United States, Scotland , and Ireland, Connolly was a peerless organizer, sharp polemicist, and highly original thinker. His positions on the relationship between national liberation and socialism, revolution in colonized in colonized and under developed economies, and women's liberation in particular were often decades ahead of their time. This collection seeks to return Connolly to his proper place in Irish and global history, and to inspire activists, students, and those interested in history today with his vision of an Ireland and world free from militarism, injustice, and deprivation.
From the rollicking welcome of “A Festive Song” to the defiant battle cry of “Watchword of Labor,” Songs of Freedom accomplishes the difficult task of making contemporary music out of old revolutionary songs. Far from the archival preservation of embalmed corpses, the inspired performance of a rocking band turns the timeless lyrics of James Connolly into timely manifestos for today’s young rebels. As Connolly himself repeatedly urged, nothing can replace the power of music to raise the fighting spirit of the oppressed. Giving expression to Connolly’s internationalism, musical influences ranging from traditional Irish airs to American rhythm and blues are combined here in refreshing creativity. As for the songs themselves, nine have lyrics by Connolly, three were written about Connolly, and one, “The Red Flag,” was chosen by Connolly to be in the original Songs of Freedom songbook of 1907, subsequently becoming a classic song of Labor. The instrumentation is acoustic: guitars, uilleann pipes, whistles, fiddle, accordion, and Irish harp, as well as drums and bass. 1. A Festive Song 2. Be Moderate 3. Human Freedom 4. Connolly Was There 5. A Rebel Song 6. Saoirse a Rúin 7. When Labor Calls 8. O Slaves of Toil 9. Shake Out Your Banners 10. The Irish Rebel 11. The Red Flag 12. Watchword of Labor 13. Where Is James Connolly?
Often deliberately airbrushed out of Irish history by what Connolly himself described as the Irish status quo, he remains a radical and explosive figure in Irish history and political thought. His own beliefs and convictions have long been obscured b
James Connolly was a prolific writer of books, tracts, articles and essays, and conducted a voluminous correspondence with ideological friends and foes of every persuasion. This selection of just over 100 previously uncollected articles and essays is arranged into six sections, corresponding to the journals in which they originally appeared: The Workers Republic; The Socialist; The Harp; The Irish Worker; The Worker; and The Workers Republic (1915-1916). Each section is prefaced with a brief historical context, and explanatory footnotes are included throughout. The introduction provides a biographical sketch of the man and his times and an account of the tangled history of the posthumous publication of Connolly's work - providing a mirror of developments in the Irish labour movement since Connolly's death.
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