Superprofits - Shitty Pay

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• By: Mickey Wed, 30 Mar 2022 07:44:03

  There is a common misperception that at one point Éirígí was “big” and “on the brink of a breakthrough”, this I don’t believe was ever really the case.

  There was certainly a period, for better or worse, that the national media were all over everything we did, but that was a very limited period.

  The party was always focused on activism over electoral politics (There’s a comprehensive party document on the role of elections and how the party engages in them).

  It’s worth noting that Éirígí have never won a council seat, all councillors we ever had were people who defected while sitting councillors – just to put election results in context.

  It would of course be ludicrous to suggest that electoral results weren’t disappointing (but when you have rival candidates from both the centre right and far left telling constituents that our party were a front for RIRA it doesn’t help) – but the reality is we are where we are, and we canvassed and engaged communities on our national campaigns and not on local issues. Elections were only ever used as an opportunity to bring our issues to the doors, so its not hugely surprising that the anti-capitalist socialist republican message doesn’t amount thousands of votes.

  Éirígí certainly did go through a rough period post 2016, after a period of focus on internal structures, the party is growing again, and is close to as big as it ever was. The spread of the party across communities in rural Ireland is a first for us, and plenty of people disillusioned with the lack of activism within SF have been getting involved in areas like Laois, Westmeath, Roscommon, Co.Galway, Sligo etc. Its fair to say our set up in the 6 counties is fairly meagre, with the exception of a few prominent members, but the reality on the ground in the six is always a bit different, with “group hopping” a big part of Republican politics to the left of SF.

  Some of our recent campaigning is really noteworthy, although it doesn’t get any media attention. I would encourage anyone interested to have a look at the Track the Vultures map on our website (www.eirigi.org) , our UP Housing campaign, the campaign around public ownership of renewables etc.

  Our focus has always been on identifying the key topics that expose the contradictions within Irish capitalism, and using plain language to engage our communities on those topics. We’ve had some success as the party has grown in the last 2 years, we are running some fantastic community initiatives that we don’t run under the party name.

  I don’t feel we are particularly squeezed by PBP, we have had a few ex-PBP people join in recent years, I think the rise and rise of SF is no doubt the biggest squeeze. I still firmly believe there is a place for a Republican party to the left of SF, that reject A.S going forward, but are immensely proud of and places itself in that Republican tradition.

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• By: roddy Wed, 30 Mar 2022 08:09:03

  In reply to Mickey.

  Duffy’s membership of Eirigi ensured they would never ammount to anything in the North.

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• By: mal Wed, 30 Mar 2022 20:35:50

  In reply to Sam.

  Judging by some of the stuff they sell on their website, AIA are at the exciting intersection of Maoism, Marxism and supporting Celtic FC…

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• By: benmadigan Thu, 31 Mar 2022 21:16:59

  In reply to sobriquet90.

  Eirigi’s political propaganda, images, slogans etc were truly excellent in its early years.Really innovative and attention-catching
  Haven’t seen much recently but have the impression it’s somewhat fallen off

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• By: benmadigan Thu, 31 Mar 2022 21:22:28

  In reply to Sam.

  Lasair Dhearg Belfast has run some visually stimulating and very original initiatives.They have a real talent for using graphic design to communicate their message

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• By: benmadigan Thu, 31 Mar 2022 21:36:41

  In reply to Mickey.

  “I still firmly believe there is a place for a Republican party to the left of SF,”
  I have no doubt that there is
  To forward the project I suggest establishing friendly contacts (rather than rivalry) with the IRSP, 1916 Societies, Lasair Dearg etc with a view to agreeing on common objectives and reciprocal support for each other’s candidates in various constituencies as local and general elections come up

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• By: banjoagbeanjoe Thu, 31 Mar 2022 22:33:54

  Good discussion on Éirígí and where it might be at.
  Benmadigan mentions the IRSP, 1916 Societies, Lasair Dhearg.
  Anyone any idea on where the IRSP might be at? Something about sending solidarity greetings to the people of Donetsk and Luhansk on their liberation from their Nazi oppressors? Was that a joke? Or is the IRSP a joke?
  And the 1916 Societies? What are they and where might they be at?

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