It is not uncommon to hear dismissal of trade unions among leftists: too conservative, don’t mobilise enough, too eager to make deals with employers and so on. The issue for Communists is not whether these criticisms are true; it is rather that they miss the point. Unions reflect a market […]
Ireland
The Struggle to Maintain and Build Our Neutrality Heats Up
The attacks and machinations against Irish neutrality by the coalition government, arms companies, security think tanks and the military establishment continue to gather momentum. Barely a day passes that there is not another attack and attempt to undermine neutrality—newspaper articles, discussion on radio and television spreading rumours of imminent threat […]
Dependency and the Structure of Irish Capital
James O’Toole’s recent article on “comprador theory”[https://rednetwork.net/red-theory/2026/02/comprador-theory-lets-the-irish-rich-hide/] raises an important and serious political concern. He is right to insist that the Irish ruling class must not be portrayed as innocent intermediaries. Irish capital exploits. The Irish state defends class interests. Irish firms extract surplus both domestically and internationally. Any analysis […]
When a Union Teaches You to Lower Your Expectations
SIPTU presents itself as the largest force for organised labour in Ireland. Its scale is cited as proof of strength, of presence, of the collective weight of workers. Yet for many members, especially those in small and medium workplaces, the reality of SIPTU representation is starkly different. Instead of strength, […]
Geo-Political Rivalry and Working-Class Insecurity
In recent days, Irish media and the political establishment have sounded the alarm about the escalating dispute between the European Union and the United States, warning that new tariff threats and the possible unravelling of last year’s trade deal could have serious consequences for the Irish economy and jobs, particularly […]
Irish Establishment Running Out of Road on Sovereignty and Neutrality
The political and economic space in which the Irish state operates is increasingly shaped by the growing inter-imperialist contradictions within the NATO/EU bloc, which is itself a manifestation of the general crisis of capitalism. The tensions over Greenland are not an aberration but the latest symptom of a systemic process […]
Frank Conroy Committee designs badge to mark the 90th anniversary of death of Kildare IRA volunteer, anti-fascist and Communist Party member Frank Conroy
The Frank Conroy Committee has designed a badge to mark the 90th anniversary of thedeath of Kildare IRA volunteer, anti-fascist and Communist Party member Frank Conroy.Christy Moore took to the stage at the 2018 James Connolly Festival in the Communist Partyof Ireland’s New Theatre to give an impromptu performance of […]
The Battle for Economic and Political Sovereignty
In the dark days of December, the Irish ruling class through their government, not once, not twice but three times displayed their contempt for the concept of democracy and political and economic sovereignty. They rushed through the Dail their proposals to abandon the Triple Lock governing the deployment of Irish […]
The Corporate Capture of the GAA
A slow burning but significant class conflict is unfolding within Cumann Luthchleas Gael [the Gaelic Athletic Association or GAA]. It pits the Association’s corporate-aligned leadership against its grassroots membership, with the flashpoint being a sponsorship deal with the German insurance giant Allianz. This is not merely a disagreement over branding; it […]
Once Again, Irish Fishing Communities Are Sold Down the River
At the end of December 2025, the Irish state signed off on a new fisheries agreement with the EU Fisheries Council. It will result in an estimated €94 million in losses for the Irish fishing industry in 2026. The deal reduces Ireland’s fishing quota by 57,000 tonnes. Over 2,300 jobs […]
From Solidarity to Strategy: Building Power for a 32-County Socialist Republic
Anyone with an ounce of humanity has been focused, angered, and motivated by the horrific genocide in Palestine. The old saying springs to mind: ‘For those who know, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t, none is possible.’ But perhaps that is not entirely true. As radical, revolutionary activists, […]
Beyond Left Eclecticism: The Party’s Distinct Role
As we approach our 27th National Congress, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on the nature and role of communist parties. Communist Parties were founded on the principles of scientific socialism: an outlook identifying dynamics of social change in the economic structure and its associated class relations, via […]
British Imperialism in Ireland – State-Directed Killings
In the opening chapter of The State and Revolution, Lenin quotes Marx: ‘… the state is an organ of class rule, an organ for the oppression of one class by another…’ This means the bourgeois state will take whatever steps it deems necessary to maintain its dominance. While this preservation […]
What Can the Trade Union Movement Make of the National Action Plan? Prioritising the Fight for the Right to Organise
Trade union density in the 26 Counties stands at a stark 22%, with collective bargaining coverage at around 34%. This is a catastrophic decline from the peak of approximately 60% density in the 1980s. Yet, this bleak picture obscures a crucial reality: there is a massive representation gap between actual […]
Two Economies, One Crisis: The Fiction of Irish Economic Success
Recent headline figures for the 26-County economy are a study in illusion. GDP growth is expected to reach 10.7% in 2025, a surge driven largely by multinational corporations front-loading exports ahead of potential tariff deadlines. As the European Commission noted in its 17 November forecast, this growth is “exceptional and […]
Athghabháil na hÉireann: The Cultural Reconquest of Ireland
“Tá dualgas ar gach saoránach Gaeilge a labhairt.” [“Every citizen has a duty to speak Irish.”] These words of Máirtín Ó Cadhain, spoken in an earlier era of struggle, are finding new resonance in today’s Ireland. Across the nation, and particularly among the younger generations, a quiet but determined reconquest […]
