Irish Labour History Society

Interesting exhibition currently on display in Waterford Library, with an event also taking place this Friday May Day.

This publication 'Red Flags and Rising Voices: Fermanagh's Labour History 1930-1979' supported by the Irish Labour History Society and written by Society member Jim Quinn is taking place on 7th May in Enniskillen. Details below.

The programme for the Red Flag Festival is now available online. See below and https://redflagfestival.com/

This annual festival, that pays tribute to Jim Connell, author of the Red Flag, is dedicating the 2026 Festival to the late Meath Trade Unionist Tommy Grimes.

The Red Flag Festival | Jim Connell 2026 International Red Flag Festival in KellsAnnouncement soon Music Culture Activities Stalls FREE COMMUNITY FUN DAY Calling all International Trade Unionist and Socialist The organisers of The Red Flag Festival invite you to celebrate the 28th anniversary of this historic event, dedicated to honou...

Did you know May Day was first celebrated in Dublin in 1890 when a demonstration was organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions.

One of the key demands was an eight hour day.

This year we are asking. Can you afford to live?

Talk On 1926 General Strike & Impact On Ireland By Professor John Foster This Saturday Morning at 11.30AM. All welcome!
https://www.irishlabourhistorysociety.com/events/upcoming-talk-on-the-1926-general-strike/

SIPTU Marx Memorial Library Mandate Trade Union Fórsa trade union CWU Ireland Irish Congress of Trade Unions 1913committee ICHLC - The Irish Centre for Histories of Labour and Class

The 1926 General Strike - Talk on Saturday 11th April 11.30AM

The Irish Labour History Society are hosting a free talk by Professor John Foster in our premises in Beggars Bush, Dublin on Saturday 11th April from 11.30AM. Titled "Reflections on the impact of the 1926 UK General Strike on the British, Irish and global labour movement", the talk (preceding our AGM at 12.30PM) will explore the seminal 1926 General Strike in the UK and the impact on the Irish labour movement. All welcome to the talk!

Tickets for the 2026 LookLeft - Supporting the Robert Tressell Festival taking place on Saturday 6th June are now on sale!

Ireland’s premier political festival is back, bigger and bolder for 2026, taking place on Saturday 6th June in the RDS Conference Hall, Dublin 4

Confirmed speakers and performers for this year’s day of debate, music and the arts include:

US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, John McDonnell MP, Lowkey, Irish Congress of Trade Unions President Phil Ní Sheaghdha with music from Sean McKenna and FARÓ

Final line-up of high-profile speakers, political leaders and musicians launching on May Day

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/robert-tressell-festival-2026-tickets-1986413506270?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

The 1926 General Strike - Talk on Saturday 11th April 11.30AM

The Irish Labour History Society are hosting a free talk by Professor John Foster in our premises in Beggars Bush, Dublin on Saturday 11th April from 11.30AM. Titled "Reflections on the impact of the 1926 UK General Strike on the British, Irish and global labour movement", the talk (preceding our AGM at 12.30PM) will explore the seminal 1926 General Strike in the UK and the impact on the Irish labour movement. All welcome to the talk!

Left Lives 5 Now Available To Order From Irish Labour History Society website

The final title by Umiskin Press, is fittingly dedicated to the memory of its founder (and former President of the Society) Jack McGinley who sadly passed away in late 2024. This volume includes articles on little known labour movement figures or examines more familiar lives in original and imaginative ways.
It is now available to order from the Society website

Left Lives 5: Essays in Honour of Jack McGinley - Irish Labour History Society This final title from Umiskin Press is, fittingly, dedicated to the memory and work of its founder Jack McGinley. Running through many of the tributes paid after his sudden death in November 2024 was the observation that Umiskin Press would be ‘his legacy’. Of course, as the obituary essay conta...

New Book Review Added To Society Website - 'A Spanish Commune : The Cartagena Canton and Its Worlds' by Jeanne Moisand, reviewed by Emmet O'Connor https://www.irishlabourhistorysociety.com/news/new-book-review-a-spanish-commune-the-cartagena-canton-and-its-worlds/

Coming up Wed. 25th February, 4 pm, University of Galway. To join online (no need to pre-register):
https://universityofgalway-ie.zoom.us/j/91693882085?pwd=SyY08C5JEjrHvP0RI5RgQXdAdeJEuL.1

The 7:84 (Scotland) Theatre company had a tremendous impact on a generation of Irish actors, directors and writers. For Ollie Jennings, who promoted several of their Galway performances in the 1970s, they had ‘energy, swagger, and a political message … their singing made their shows accessible, and their mix of socialism and entertainment was infectious.’

Taking their name from a statistic of the time (7% of the people own 84% of the wealth), the company took their drama through the highways and lowlands of Scotland, before taking Ireland by storm in 1974, with their radical “ceilidh-play” prompted by the discovery of the North Sea oilfield, The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil.

Speaker, Dr Andrew Newby, is a specialist in Scottish-Irish comparative history.

The second speaker, archivist Kieran H***e, will introduce one of the University’s major archival collections: that of John Arden and Margaretta D’Arcy, authors of such classic works of Irish theatre as The Non-Stop Connolly Show (1975) and The Ballygombeen Bequest (1972).