Irish Left Archive Podcast
Exploring Left politics in Ireland past and present

#61: Until We Fall: Long Distance Life on the Left, with Helena Sheehan

•   Wed, 25 Sep 2024
•  1 hr 22 mins

In this episode we talk to Professor Helena Sheehan about her recent book, Until We Fall: Long Distance Life on the Left.

#60: Unfinished Business: The Politics of 'Dissident' Irish Republicanism, with Marisa McGlinchey

•   Tue, 27 Aug 2024
•  39 mins

In this episode we talk to Dr. Marisa McGlinchey about her book, Unfinished Business: the politics of ‘dissident’ Irish republicanism (Manchester University Press, 2019). Based on a series of interviews with radical Republicans from several organisations, the book discusses the development of ‘dissident’ Irish republicanism and considers its impact on politics throughout Ireland since the 1980s. It argues that, rather than being simply traditionalists left behind by the mainstream, the dynamics and trajectory of ‘dissident’ republicanism are shaped more by contemporary forces than historical tradition and that by understanding them we can better understand the emerging forms of political challenge in an age of austerity and increasing political instability internationally.

#59: Sinéad Mercier: Environment and Just Transition

•   Tue, 02 Jul 2024
•  1 hr 01 min

In this episode we speak to Sinéad Mercier. Sinéad is a lecturer in Environmental Law & Policy and PhD Researcher in the Sutherland School of Law in UCD with the PROPERTY [IN]JUSTICE project led by Amy Strecker and Amanda Byer. We discuss Sinéad’s political background, her engagement with Trade Unionism and work with ICTU; environmental campaigning, how environmentalism has developed in Ireland, and some of the campaigns and groups that have played a role in that; Sinéad’s previous experience in environmental law and as a policy researcher with Senator Alice Mary Higgins and with the Green Party; and the contrast between an environmentalism still embedded in colonialism and capitalism and a genuinely transformative socialist environmentalism and Just Transition.

#58: Spirit of Revolution: Ireland from below, 1917–1923

•   Fri, 24 May 2024
•  1 hr 05 mins

Spirit of revolution

In this episode we discuss the recently published book, Spirit of Revolution: Ireland from below, 1917–1923 . This edited volume looks at regional and local case studies during the revolutionary period, highlighting the widespread radicalism – beyond the national independence movement – that flourished around Ireland at the time in land and housing action, labour mobilisation and trade unionism. We discuss the volume with John Cunningham and Terry Dunne, who are co-editors of the book, as well as both contributing individual chapters.

#57: Camilla Fitzsimons: Spectacle of Defiance & Hope, Repeal, and Academics for Palestine

•   Tue, 26 Mar 2024
•  1 hr 20 mins

In this episode we speak to activist and academic Camilla Fitzsimons. Camilla’s academic work focuses in particular on education and social movements, and she is an Associate Professor in Maynooth University School of Education. Her publications include two books – Community education and neoliberalism: Philosophies, practices and policies in Ireland (2017) and Repealed: Ireland’s Unfinished Fight for Reproductive Rights (2021).

#56: Jim Monaghan: LWR, Workers' League, Official Sinn Féin, People's Democracy, & the H-Block Armagh Committee

•   Wed, 31 Jan 2024
•  1 hr 04 mins

In this episode we talk to Jim Monaghan. Jim first became politically active as a student in the late 1960s in Dublin. We discuss the increasing politicisation in Ireland at that time, and Jim’s political activity, initially with Labour and Students for Democratic Action, the League for A Workers’ Republic, and briefly the LWR-breakaway, the League for a Workers Vanguard.

#55: Politics & Cultural Influence

•   Sun, 31 Dec 2023
•  23 mins

Throughout 2023 we have asked podcast guests if there are any cultural artefacts or events that they consider particularly influential on their politics.

#54: David Costelloe: Military History and The Troubles

•   Thu, 30 Nov 2023
•  1 hr 13 mins

In this episode we’re joined by David Costelloe. Dave writes on history and politics on his website Never Felt Better, and in particular has written an extensive series of articles on Irish military history from the earliest records almost to the contemporary, Ireland’s Wars. We spoke to Dave previously in 2021, on episode 20 of the podcast, about his background and work on earlier military history, and he joins us again to discuss the period of the Troubles in particular and the comprehensive series of articles on the topic he has written since last speaking to us.

#53: A New Series and Project Update

•   Tue, 31 Oct 2023
•  28 mins

An introduction to our next series of episodes and discussion of the Irish Left Archive project and changes we’ve made in the past year.