Ainriail, No. 6

This document provides something of a companion piece to the Ainriail published in the Archives from the late 1980s. Although there is no statement to that effect it seems reasonable to assume that there was some degree of continuity between those behind the two publications. That said another issue of Ainriail from the 1990s notes that ‘Ainriail Collective grew out of the developments surrounding the ‘downfall’ of Class War in Ireland’ and links that explicitly to the British ‘Class War’ paper and group.

As the Introduction notes:

This magazine has been produced by Ainriail. It’s purpose is to promote anarchist politics by providing coverage of local, national and international class struggle, anarchists actions and resistance.

It also notes that:

Most of our activity centered around Strike Support as Dunnes workers fought back yet again – the full story is covered within. Our comrades in Organise put on an exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War, which was held in Belfast and was well attended.

The contents is fairly varied with coverage of the Dunnes Strike, a piece on Organisation and various snippets of news from both Ireland and internationally.

Unlike the 1980 Ainriail this publication seems to take a more critical view of Republicanism. Consider for example a letter on page 9.

Dear Ainriail,

The article carried in issue 4 ‘Anarchism and the North’ was a positive stance to take on the National Question. I had wondered if I was the only person within the ‘left’, both in England and of course in the 32 counties who felt that neither Loyalism or Republicanism benefit the working class. It’s about time that all anarchists woke up to the reality of the North. Like Loyalism, Republicanism is statis and cannot be supported in any way by true anarchists. The Republican movements ‘middle class’ political thought has always contained the ideals of a united capitalist Ireland and as for Loyalism, well its just shit. No to Republicanism/Loyalism – No to Statism

Chris/London.

The response is:

As one of our immediate aims as an Anarchist Collective on the issue of the North is to change the minds of Anarchists in Britain, Europe etc, who support to a degree the Republican movement. As anarchists, we reject links with all bosses, Orange & Green. A divided working class only serves the interests of statists – Republic or Loyalist, Israeli or Palestinian, Greek or Turk Cypriot or Serb and Croat. The list is endless. We are not Marxist/Leninists but Anarchists. Our slogan remains for all to see, ‘NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR’.

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