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Communist Party of Ireland

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This article is about the party founded in 1970. For other uses, see Communist Party of Ireland (disambiguation).

Communist Party of Ireland
AbbreviationCPI
ChairpersonCiara Ní Mhaoilfhinn
General SecretaryJimmy Corcoran
Founded1970 (1970)
Merger ofIrish Workers' Party
Communist Party of Northern Ireland
Preceded byRevolutionary Workers' Groups
Headquarters43 East Essex Street,
Dublin 2, Ireland
NewspaperSocialist Voice
Youth WingConnolly Youth Movement (Until 2021)
Ideology
International affiliationIMCWP
Party flag
Website
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The Communist Party of Ireland (CPI) is a Marxist–Leninist party, founded in 1970 and active in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland following a merger of the Irish Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Northern Ireland. It rarely contests elections and has never had electoral success. The party is a member of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties. Throughout the period of the Cold War, the CPI openly aligned with the Soviet Union. During the Troubles, the party procured some arms for the faction which became the Official IRA. The party closely supported the Cuban Revolution and campaigns such as the Birmingham Six. Minor splits from the CPI included the Eurocommunist-inspired Irish Marxist Society.

History

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1970s and 1980s

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The Communist Party of Ireland formed in 1970 following a merger of the Irish Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Northern Ireland. Michael O'Riordan, a member of the Communist Party of Ireland (1933), became general secretary and would remain in that role until 1983. In March 1970, following the CPNI/IWP merger, the new Communist Party of Ireland issued a manifesto called For Unity and Socialism, advocating the election of left-wing governments in both parts of Ireland, and, eventually, the creation of a United Ireland.[1]

One notable split from the CPI was the Eurocommunist group the Irish Marxist Society, which left the CPI around 1976. The IMS was founded by Joe Deasy (1922–2013), Sam Nolan (1930-), Paddy Carmody, George Jeffares, Mick O'Reilly (1946-) and other former CPI members.[2] The IMS advocated Marxist feminism[3] and was also outspoken in its rejection of the two nations theory of Northern Ireland.[4] Most of the IMS's members later joined the Irish Labour Party,[5] where they played a leading role in the formation of Labour Left.[6]

The CPI strongly criticised the Anglo-Irish Agreement, claiming the AIA "underlined Partition and gave Britain a direct say in the affairs of the Republic".[7] In the 1980s, its membership declined significantly during the electoral rise of the Workers' Party and this trend continued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The party's aim is to win the support of the majority of the Irish people for ending the capitalist system and for building socialism. It is actively opposed to neo-liberalism and to the European Union.

Autobiographical accounts of the party in this period have been written by Mick O'Reilly,[8] Helena Sheehan[9] and Kevin McMahon.[10]

2010s and 2020s

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The party stood two candidates in the 2014 local elections, neither was elected.[11] The CPI fielded one candidate for the 2016 Dáil Éireann election for the Cork North-West constituency.[12]

In January 2021, the Connolly Youth Movement dropped its support for the programme of the CPI.[13] In February, the CPI issued a statement stating that several dual (CPI-CYM) members had been expelled for severe breaches of discipline and factional behaviour within the CPI prior to the CYM's decision to drop its support for the programme of the CPI.[14]

On 2 June 2021, the CPI released a statement distancing itself from its former Belfast branch due to the actions of former party members in the city. The statement also announced the founding of a new Greater Belfast branch to replace the Belfast branch and noted that the branch's social media pages and Unity newspaper were still in the hands of the former members of the Belfast branch.[15][16]

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the party called for an immediate ceasefire and political solution to bring about a "demilitarised, neutral Ukraine", saying it was an "inter-imperialist war".[17] The CPI opposes the Ukrainian Government, stating the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution was a US-backed "coup". The CPI blamed the war on "the expansion of NATO", stating it had built up "large bases of troops and mass destructive weapons along [Russia's] western and southern borders".[18] When it was announced the Irish Defence Forces would train Ukraine's military in mine clearing,[19] the CPI condemned this as "collaboration of the Irish political establishment in the NATO-EU strategy to escalate and prolong the war in Ukraine".[18]

In 2022, a group seceded from the CPI, citing "political and organisational issues", with the name "Irish Communist Party". It claims to be a successor to the CPI, stating that an "opportunistic and anti-democratic faction" had taken control of the party. The interim National Chairperson is Eoin Ó Murchú.[20][non-primary source needed]

Organisation and activity

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The general secretary of the party is Jimmy Corcoran. The CPI publishes a monthly magazine called Socialist Voice. There are also branches in Cork, Galway, Munster, and Mid-Ulster.

While it is a registered party, the CPI has rarely run candidates in elections and has never had electoral success. The CPI operates a bookshop in Dublin called Connolly Books, which is named after the Irish socialist James Connolly.

The party and its members are prominent in a number of campaigns such as advocating a "No" vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendums.[21] The party has also advocated a referendum on the Irish bailout of banks.[22] It also continues to oppose the European Union and membership of the euro currency.[23] The CPI set up the Repudiate The Debt campaign to further this objective. In the 2010s, the CPI was active in Right2Water Ireland and called for a constitutional amendment to enshrine ownership of water in the hands of the Irish people and not the state.[24] The party also supported the anti-war movement in Ireland as part of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance.

In November 2017, the Standards in Public Office Commission stated that some statements of accounts had been received from the CPI, but they were found not to be compliant because the accounts were not audited. It decided against appointing a public auditor as the CPI did not receive any funding from the exchequer.[25]

General secretaries

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Chairpersons

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  • 1970–1983: Andy Barr
  • 1983–1989: Michael O'Riordan
  • 1989–2001: Eugene McCartan
  • 2001–2004: Jimmy Stewart
  • 2004–2017: Lynda Walker
  • 2018–2021: John Pinkerton
  • 2021–2022: Janelle McAteer
  • 2023–present: Ciara Ní Mhaoilfhinn

References

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  1. ^ Milotte, p. 281–282.
  2. ^ "With other former members he established the Irish Marxist Society. Eventually he returned to the Labour Party and remained a member until his death." Activist who made 'inspiring' contribution to Irish left Obituary of Joe Deasy, The Irish Times, 9 February 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  3. ^ What's on Today? Irish Times, 23 June 1976, (p. 19) advertises a speech by Naomi Wayne on "Marxist Feminism" on behalf of the IMS.
  4. ^ Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations by Peter Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005 (p. 224–225).
  5. ^ Eagle or Cuckoo? The Story of the ATGWU in Ireland by Matt Merrigan. Matmer Publications, Ireland, 1989 (p. 316).
  6. ^ Kenny, Brian (2010). Sam Nolan: A Long March on the Left. Dublin: Personal History Publishing.
  7. ^ "Agreement attacked as imperialist", Jim Cusack, The Irish Times, 3 February 1986, p. 9
  8. ^ O'Reilly, Mick (2019). From Lucifer to Lazarus. Dublin: Lilliput Press.
  9. ^ Sheehan, Helena (2019). Navigating the Zeitgeist. New York: Monthly Review Press.
  10. ^ McMahon, Kevin (2017). Organiser. Dublin: SIPTU.
  11. ^ "Communist Party of Ireland / Páirtí Cumannach na hÉireann". www.communistpartyofireland.ie.
  12. ^ "ElectionsIreland.org: Party Candidates". electionsireland.org.
  13. ^ CYM Statement of Disaffiliation Connolly Youth Movement, www.cym.ie, January 18, 2021.
  14. ^ [1] Statement on CPI-CYM relations, February 9, 2021.
  15. ^ "Belfast Communist Party of Ireland Statement". 2 June 2021.
  16. ^ "LEFT SPLINTER GROUP SPLINTERS". The Phoenix. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  17. ^ "End the war in Ukraine- Dismantle NATO". communistparty.ie. 27 February 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Irish communists say engagement in Ukraine threatens neutrality". Morning Star. 16 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Ireland set to provide training for Ukraine to clear Russian landmines". The Irish Times. 17 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Irish Communist Party - About". Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  21. ^ Conor McCabe, "Lisbon Treaty Referendum: A statement by the Communist Party of Ireland", 3 October 2009.
  22. ^ Communists call for referendum on non-payment of debt to 'foreign banksers', by Mary Minihan, Irish Times, Saturday, 5 March 2011
  23. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "Communist Party of Ireland". Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  25. ^ Burke, Ceimin (29 November 2017). "Nearly half of Ireland's political parties failed to submit accounts to watchdog". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
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