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Socialism in Ireland; both in the modern day Republic of Ireland in the south, and Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom) has its roots in the 19th Century, when the two regions were still united, and has had many phases and forms throughout its history.

History

Origins and early history: 19th century

The very earliest days of Socialism in Ireland can be traced back to the 7th of November 1831, when the Ralahine Commune was established by forty-one adults and twelve children on John Vandeleur's Ralahine estate near Newmarket-on-Fergus in County Clare. The commune experimented in a kind of socialism largely reminiscent of the ideology promoted by Robert Owen, governed by a committee of nine who were elected twice a year, they aimed to farm the estate as equals, share the wealth they produced equally amongst themselves, and educate the children in their ideology in a school which they built on the commune. Ultimately the commune failed due to the gambling habits of its patron John Vandeleur, having lost enormous sums of money subsequently fleeing the country, the land on which the commune was sold in order to repay his debts. Nevertheless the commune marked the start of the growth of Socialist ideals on the island of Ireland.

Early trade unions

The next major development of socialism in Ireland was the development of the trade union movement on the island. The movement to establish socialist communes had been a non confrontational approach to socialism and centred largely on removing those involved in the commune from wider society and instead establishing their own form of society, they also often required a wealthy patron such as Vandeleur or Owen. Trade unionism however, stemmed from the desire of the growing working class to organise to protect their working rights, thus this led to a far more militant form of socialism.

A large number of the wealthy capitalists in Ireland were British and as a result the growth in support for trade unionism also led to a growth in support for Irish independence. There was also a significant group of wealthy Irish business owners as well, these individuals found support from Daniel O’Connell who despite being celebrated for his role in achieving Catholic emancipation and promoting Irish interests in the British parliament was vehemently opposed to socialism and trade unions.

Whilst O'Connell was advocating for a return to the relationship that Ireland had with Great Britain before the Acts of Union 1800 (enacted in 1801), the Irish trade unions were becoming heavily involved in the Chartist movement and began to call for the complete separation of Ireland from Great Britain.

Syndicalism

James Larkin

James Connolly

James Larkin and James Connolly - the two leading figures in the Irish trade union movement.

Key figures in the movement

James Larkin, James Connolly

Modern impacts