"I Owe My Allegiance only to the Working Class"

Guest piece by Ciaran Mulholland.

"I Owe My Allegiance only to the Working Class"

This weekend in Bray the Irish Republican Socialist Movement will commemorate the courageous visionary, and their founding leader, Seamus Costello. This was a man who led by example, and his activism from the cradle to the grave is testament to his determination and enthusiasm in furthering the concept of a genuine 32 County Socialist Republic, where all the children of the Nation are cherished equally.

Despite Costello being a gallant revolutionary, he was also a great intellect. He was conscious that the cause of Ireland is the cause of labour. Costello recognised that the status quo was offering no viable alternative for the working class of Ireland and that the emerging armed reactionary nationalist would only exasperated the artificial sectarian tensions established by colonial imperialists.

Despite the threat of harm, death and incarceration Costello was true to the needs of the proletariat and thus was instrumental in the formation an Irish Revolutionary Movement. In late 1974, the Irish Republican Socialist Party was formed by Republicans, Socialists, and Trade Unionists with Costello elected as their chathaoirleach. Costello was an advocated for a combination of socialist politics on economic issues in tandem with arm struggle. A direction that was later furthered and strategized by Revolutionary Ta Power.

Alike that of Costello, I too want to build a Socialist Republican alternative that embraces all. However, I believe that it is essential that we learn from the lessons of our past and build a movement together – a movement based on the concept of progression not perfection – this involves risks and courage from all.

The people of Ireland, like that of the entire working classes globally, are unnecessarily experiencing grave hardship as a result of the corrupt and greedy recklessness of the status quo. The political elite have again failed the ordinary people of Ireland. The Free State and British Governments continue to violate the human rights of its most vulnerable citizens and silence activists via their exploitation of draconian legislative provisions and oppressive state apparatus.

I think we the greater Republican Clann must take inspiration from our dead generations and work together for the betterment of our people. Although Costello lived a relatively short life he accomplished so much – yet there is still much more to be done and we must unite and organising a viable and credible alternative.

Therefore I think that it is only appropriate to conclude with the words of Nora Connolly:

“Of all the politicians and political people with whom I have had conversations, and whom I have had conversations, and who called themselves followers of Connolly, he was the only one who truly understood what James Connolly meant when he spoke of his vision of the freedom of the Irish people”

I ndíl gcuimhne Seamus Ó Coistealbha.
CIARÁN MULHOLLAND
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