Irish Workers' Party

This article is about the Irish Workers' Party founded in 1948. For the party founded in 1926, see Irish Workers' Party (1926). For the current Workers Party, see Workers' Party of Ireland.

Irish Workers' Party or Irish Workers' League were the names used by the communist party in the Republic of Ireland from 1941 until 1970.^[1]

Background

The Southern section of the Communist Party of Ireland had suspended its activities from 1941 onwards because of police interference in its activities and the difficulties imposed by the emigration of many members to find work in England. Members were encouraged instead to join the Labour Party (though they were subsequently expelled). The influx of communists (both from Jim Larkins party and the Communist Party of Ireland) to the Labour party and union movement cause a split in Labour with the formation of National Labour. During the time the communists still ran a revolutionary book shop New Books and produced a publication Irish Review.

Irish Workers' League

After the Second World War, internees released from the Curragh Camp such as the Connolly Group and with expulsions from the Labour Party, the party was re-established in the South in 1948 under the name Irish Workers' League. Michael O'Riordan became its Secretary, others involved in early meetings of the party included Dominic Behan, Sam Nolan, Joe O'Connor and Sean Mulready.^[2] The IWL resumed publication of The Irish Workers' Voice which had been a publication of the Communist Party. The IWL ran candidates in the unsuccessfully in the 1951, 1954, and 1961 general elections.

Change of name to Irish Workers' Party

In 1962 the name was changed to Irish Workers’ Party, and fielded some candidates unsuccessfully in the 1965 and 1969 general elections. In December 1965 the IWP began publishing a monthly newspaper The Irish Socialist from its New Books bookshop.

In 1970 The Irish Workers' Party merged with the Communist Party of Northern Ireland to reconstitute the all-Ireland Communist Party of Ireland.

General Secretary

1948–1970: Michael O'Riordan

External links

Communist Party of Ireland website

References

↑ A history of the communist movement in Ireland - Communist Party Website
↑ 'The Communist Party of Ireland 1921 - 2011' By Matt Treacy, Dublin 2012.

Defunct political parties in Ireland

To 1918	All-for-Ireland League Catholic Union Home Government Association Home Rule League Independent Irish Party Irish Conservative Party Irish Liberal Party Irish Loyal and Patriotic Union Irish Metropolitan Conservative Society Irish National Federation Irish National League Irish Parliamentary Party Irish Patriot Party Irish Reform Association Irish Socialist Republican Party Irish Unionist Alliance Repeal Association United Irish League

Post 1918	Ailtirí na hAiséirghe All Ireland Anti-Partition League Aontacht Éireann British and Irish Communist Organisation Business and Professional Group Christian Centrist Party Christian Solidarity Party Clann Éireann Clann na Poblachta Clann na Talmhan Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist–Leninist) Córas na Poblachta Cork Civic Party Cork Socialist Party Cumann na nGaedheal Cumann na Poblachta Cumann Poblachta na hÉireann Democratic Left Democratic Socialist Party Donegal Progressive Party Farmers' Party Fathers Rights-Responsibility Party Independent Fianna Fáil Independent Health Alliance Irish Anti-Partition League Irish Centre Party Irish Dominion League Irish Independence Party Irish Worker League Irish Workers' Group Irish Workers' Party (1926) Irish Workers' Party (1948) League for a Workers Republic Libertas Monetary Reform Party Muintir na hÉireann National Centre Party National Corporate Party National Labour Party Natural Law Party National League Party National Party (1924) National Progressive Democrats Poblacht Chríostúil Progressive Democrats Republican Congress Saor Éire Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation Socialist Labour Party Socialist Party of Ireland Unionist Anti-Partition League United Left Workers League World Socialist Party

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