I am delighted to be here this evening to launch Donal Nevin’s biography on one of the most enduring figures in modern Irish history – James Connolly. I would like to extend my thanks to the General Officers and the National Executive Council of SIPTU for inviting me to launch this seminal publication.
Socialist, propagandist, the greatest and most original left-wing thinker these islands have produced since Engels, world-wide revolutionist, prophet and martyr – these are just some of the many terms used to describe James Connolly, the great Labour leader of the early 20th century, in Donal’s book. And the list could go on and on. For the reality is that James Connolly, the social agitator who played such a key role in modern Irish revolutionary history, cannot easily be categorised.
And that is why the subtitle to Donal’s biography is particularly apt. Despite dying young, James Connolly certainly led a very full life. From founder of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, to national organiser of the Socialist Party of America, to acting General Secretary of the ITGWU and ultimately, Vice-President of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic, Connolly left his mark both at home and abroad.
And yet, as this biography clearly outlines, it was not just in political terms that James Connolly led a very full life. Connolly had a depth of knowledge and insight of the scholar. His ability to draw from history, poetry, song and political thought made him both a captivating speaker and writer whose thinking was often far ahead of his time.
And it is that very richness – from Connolly’s political activity, to his intellect, to his role as a family man struggling to make ends meet – which Donal captures so well in this book. This work stands out due to the level of detail given on every aspect of this great leader’s life. Just as we learn that James Connolly was always meticulous in his research, Donal’s own attention to detail has enabled him to bring together a biography worthy of this great man. The in depth analysis of Connolly’s speeches, his contributions to journals and his many letters, enable us to trace the evolution of his thinking from his early writings in Shan Van Vocht to his final contribution to the Irish Proclamation in 1916. There are also numerous "revelations" in the book, from material previously unpublished, that cast a new light on many personalities and history of the time.
Grattan, the United Irishmen, Emmet, O’Connell all provided Connolly with inspiration. But as is clear from this book, he did not just turn to Irish history for inspiration. References to the Boer war, the fate of the Zulus, studies of Austrian mining communities, peasant revolts in the sixteenth-century were all married seamlessly within his extensive writing.
And all this from a man who knew great poverty in his own life and who never had the privilege of a full education. As Donal makes clear however that was not something to deter Connolly. He remarked to an unsuspecting American university librarian, William Bohn, that he had once gone to university …… “to carry cement”.
In addition to giving us great insight into Connolly himself, this biography also paints a vivid picture of the many personalities of the time. Take for example, the account of the lovelorn Yeats being chastised by Maud Gonne as she tells him ‘he should not involve himself in the outer side of politics’. She, by contrast, was ‘born to be in the midst of a crowd’. For today’s reader, it is all too clear that the differences between these two were long to remain unbridgeable! Descriptions of meetings where roll calls of labour, trade union, socialist and feminist leaders of the time were the norm also abound in the book. Their inclusion makes for a superb portrait of the social upheaval of the time.
Overall, this biography provides an extensive journey through an era, which continues to have an impact on the political order today. And we owe a debt of gratitude to Dr Donal Nevin for helping us to assess Connolly’s words and actions from the perspective of the times in which he lived. When considered alongside Lion of the Fold, his superb 1998 biography of Jim Larkin, and his earlier editorial work on The Trade Union Century, Donal has certainly established himself as our pre-eminent labour movement historian. I know that Donal also has numerous other publications in the pipeline on Connolly, to mark the 90th anniversary of his execution next year.
One of the lessons that is clear from a review of Irish labour history is how divisions between unions can damage the cause of solidarity between workers. They undermine the shared pursuit of sustainable improvements in living and working conditions. Unnecessary divisions between employers, unions and Government and other social partners equally act against national solidarity.
As you know, a key milestone in Irish trade unionism was the unification of the movement into one Congress in 1959. The considerable progress made since then in strengthening and modernising the movement has been key to the shared achievements made possible by ICTU’s part in our Social Partnership model. The continuation of this spirit of trade union solidarity remains crucial to Ireland successfully meeting the many, shared challenges that lie ahead in the next phase of our national development. Your part in Social Partnership is also key to redefining for a new generation of workers the crucial role that today’s trade union movement can play in adapting to the new global economy.
It is clear that James Connolly’s achievement in bringing a broad European and international perspective to the cause of ordinary Irish working people still resonates with us in today’s very different environment. In aligning the goal of national development with a deep commitment to the values of social justice and solidarity, it is clear that Connolly’s legacy – underpinned by this comprehensive account being launched here this evening – can remain a source of inspiration for many years to come, not least within the trade union movement itself.
I thank you for your attention.
Thank you.
ENDS