Éirígí Explained

Éirígí For A New Republic
Chairperson:Brian Leeson
Headquarters:Dublin
Ideology:Socialism
Irish republicanism
Left-wing nationalism
Anti-imperialism
Euroscepticism[1]
Position:Left-wing
Country:the Republic of Ireland
Country2:Northern Ireland

Éirígí (in Irish pronounced as /ˈeːɾʲiːɟiː/), officially Éirígí For A New Republic, is a socialist republican political party in Ireland.[2] The party name, Irish: Éirígí, means "Arise" or "Rise Up" in Irish, and is a reference to the slogan "The great only appear great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!" used by Irish socialists James Connolly and Jim Larkin.[3] Éirígí was formed in 2006 by a group of community and political activists who broke away from Sinn Féin, believing that party was not committed enough to socialism.

History

Éirígí was formed by a small group of community and political activists who had left Sinn Féin in Dublin on 24 April 2006,[4] shortly before the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, as a political campaigns group. On 12 May 2007, at the party's first Ardfheis (conference), its members voted to become a full-fledged political party,[5] [6] and at its 2009 conference passed a motion to register as a political party in the Republic of Ireland.[7]

It gained its first local councillors in 2009, when two former Sinn Féin councillors, Dungannon councillor Barry Monteith and Dublin City Councillor Louise Minihan, joined the organisation.[8] Former Wexford county councillor for Sinn Féin and New Ross town councillor John Dwyer also joined Éirígí. It registered with the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom) in 2011, standing for election in Northern Ireland for the first time in the 2011 local elections, citing dissatisfaction with Sinn Féin's involvement in the Northern Ireland Executive, and claiming there was "a real appetite for a radical voice" in Northern Irish politics.[9] The party ran candidates for the first time in the Republic of Ireland during the 2014 local elections in Ireland,[10] simultaneously running two candidates in the 2014 Northern Irish local elections.[11] The party didn't succeed in getting any of its eight candidates elected in the 2014 local elections, leaving it without elected representation.[12] Three candidates ran for the party in the 2019 local elections in Ireland, none were successful.[13]

The party has become known for the use of nonviolent direct action and regular protests in Belfast,[14] Dublin,[15] [16] and elsewhere.[17] It has launched a mobile app aimed at telling people their rights when they are stopped by the police.[18] Éirígí has organised protests against the visits of Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne to Ireland.[19]

In 2012, Ursula Ní Shionnáin (also known as Ursula Shannon[20]), a member of Éirígí,[21] was among four people charged under the Offences against the State Act with possessing weapons at Tullybeg, County Offaly, following an investigation by the Garda Special Detective Unit. Ní Shionnáin and others were convicted by the Special Criminal Court in 2014. [22] [23] The party's press officer, Stephen Murney, was also taken into custody in November 2012 by the PSNI on terrorism charges for owning and publishing historical photographs of police officers on duty,[24] though he was later acquitted and cleared of all charges.[25]

In 2021 Éirígí successfully brought legal action against the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ after the programme Prime Time featured a segment in which social commentator John McGuirk stated that members of Éirígí had been involved in the murder of Lyra McKee. McGuirk admitted after the programme that he had meant another republican group, Saoradh, not Éirígí. RTÉ agreed to a settlement with Éirígí that saw RTÉ pay €20,000 to three charity groups; Inner City Helping Homeless (€5,000), the Capuchin Day Centre (€5,000) and the Lyra McKee Investigative Journalism Training Bursary (€10,000).[26]

Ideology

The party seeks the removal of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom,[27] and the establishment of a 32-county republic based on socialist principles. Éirígí has participated in a range of campaigns, including Shell to Sea and Reclaim the Republic (which involved the organisation distributing 60,000 1916 Proclamations nationwide),[28] the Right2Water Campaign, the campaign to Repeal The 8th Amendment, and their UP Housing campaign, which calls for the state to introduce a universal public housing system where all citizens have the legal right to rent a high-quality, affordable home regardless of their income. They also actively promote the restoration of the Irish language to widespread everyday use across Ireland.

The party opposes the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.[29]

The twentieth Independent Monitoring Commission report of 2008 said the group is "a small political grouping based on revolutionary socialist principles". While it continues to be a political association, albeit, with aggressive protest activities, it was not seen as paramilitary in nature.[30]

Éirígí campaigned for a No vote in Ireland's 2009 Lisbon Treaty referendum.[31] It campaigned for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, describing the EU as "very much anchored in Neo-Liberal policies such as privatisation and austerity and programmes that have been enforced on countries such as Greece and Spain".[32]

Leadership

Éirígí's National Executive is responsible for the day-to-day running of the party between meetings of the Ardfheis (Party conference). It is elected by the membership annually on a 'one member – one vote' basis. The chairpersons of each local branch are also members of the National Executive.

Electoral results

Éirigí election results
ElectionCandidatesElected±First Pref votes%RankLeader
2011 Northern Irish Local202,0620.0312thBrian Leeson
2014 Northern Irish Local201,7560.0313thBrian Leeson
2014 Irish Local503,1200.1814thBrian Leeson
2019 Irish Local301,5470.0916thBrian Leeson

Notes and References

  1. News: Éirígí backs Brexit with Northern Ireland poster campaign. The Irish Times. 30 May 2016. 31 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160531120424/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/%C3%A9ir%C3%ADg%C3%AD-backs-brexit-with-northern-ireland-poster-campaign-1.2666248. live.
  2. Officially Éirígí for a New Republic in the Register of Political Parties. Web site: Register of Political Parties. 29 November 2019. Houses of the Oireachtas. 19 January 2020. 14 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200114175949/https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/members/partyRegister/2019/2019-12-02_register-of-political-parties-29-november-2019_en.pdf. live.
  3. Web site: 'An inspiration to all who gaze upon it' . Curry . James . 2013 . On the base is written the famous slogan that James Connolly opted to use above the 1896 manifesto of the Irish Socialist Republican Party, as well as beneath the masthead of his Workers’ Republic newspaper: ‘The great only appear great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!’ This slogan, which Larkin was fond of including in his speeches, is usually attributed to French revolutionary Camille Desmoulins (1760–94). It .
  4. News: . 2 May 2019 . PROFILE: CLARE DALY TD . . 25 February 2022 . the socialist republican grouping Éirígí...which split from [Sinn Féin] in 2006 because it was not fully socialist.
  5. Web site: éirígí Becomes a Political Party – Indymedia Ireland . Indymedia.ie . 17 June 2010 . 11 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210311055552/http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82533 . live .
  6. News: Campaign group now a radical political party. 26 May 2007. 31 May 2016. Irish Examiner. 24 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624075805/http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/yourview/campaign-group-now-a-radical-political-party-33644.html. live.
  7. Web site: éirígí and Elections: an Exercise in Participatory Democracy . Eirigi.org . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724181203/http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest200509.html . 24 July 2011 . dmy-all.
  8. http://www.irishnews.com/articles/540/542/2009/8/1/623987_389359775170Eirigirec.html Irish News 1 August 2009
  9. News: Eirigi to stand in NI elections. BBC News. 24 January 2011. 12 April 2014. 14 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140414062603/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12266950. live.
  10. Web site: Irish Elections:Geography, Facts and Analyses. 15 July 2013. 19 August 2020. 18 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200918021810/https://adriankavanaghelections.org/2013/07/15/othergroupings_le14candidates/. live.
  11. Web site: Former Sinn Fein vice-president's daughter Maire Drumm to run for Eirigi. 25 January 2014. 19 August 2020.
  12. Web site: Éirígí Candidates Secure An Average Of 4.4% Of The Popular Vote. 27 May 2014. 30 November 2020.
  13. Web site: Post Election The Fight For A New Republic Continues. 4 June 2019. 19 August 2020. 13 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200813154612/https://eirigi.org/latestnews/2019/5/30/post-election-the-fight-for-a-new-republic-continues. live.
  14. News: Dissidents linked to parade halt. 15 August 2009. 12 April 2014.
  15. News: Protestors invade Anglo-Irish HQ. 24 April 2010. 12 April 2014.
  16. News: Anti-austerity protesters chant insults at Irish minister Pat Rabbitte. BBC News. 18 July 2013. 12 April 2014. 21 July 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130721140846/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23353387. live.
  17. Web site: Video: Eirigi among protestors in Enniskillen. 18 June 2013. 12 April 2014. 15 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140415112015/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/video-eirigi-among-protestors-in-enniskillen-1-5199726. live.
  18. News: Republican group Eirigi to launch app that tells people their rights when stopped by police. 4 December 2015. 31 May 2016. Belfast Live. 6 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806173357/http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/republican-group-eirigi-launch-app-10549463. live.
  19. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/may/17/queens-visit-ireland-garda-foil-disruption Queen's visit to Ireland: Garda foil plans to disrupt Dublin events
  20. Web site: Prominent Eirigi member convicted of arms offences.
  21. Web site: Trinity graduate wearing wig and disguise when intercepted by armed gardai, court old. 30 January 2014. 27 February 2014. 31 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140131002333/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/trinity-graduate-wearing-wig-and-disguise-when-intercepted-by-armed-gardai-court-old-29965417.html. live.
  22. Web site: Prominent Eirigi member convicted of arms offences.
  23. Web site: Trinity College Graduate Ursula Shannon found guilty of possession of handguns and ammunition.
  24. Web site: Éirígí press officer bailed over photos. 29 January 2014. 27 February 2014. 2 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140302054554/http://www.u.tv/News/%C3%89ir%C3%ADg%C3%AD-press-officer-bailed-over-photos/c6bae67d-99eb-4bf5-b595-d605d4c3f2a2. live.
  25. News: Éirígí press officer Stephen Murney cleared of terrorism charges. BBC News. 24 January 2014. 27 February 2014. 13 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140313174945/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-26328297. live.
  26. News: Duffy . Rónán . 18 March 2021 . RTÉ to pay €20,000 to charity after republican party Éirígí is wrongly linked to murder on Prime Time . . 25 January 2023.
  27. Book: Max Taylor. P.M. Currie. Dissident Irish Republicanism. 15 July 2011. Bloomsbury Publishing. 978-1-4411-5475-0. 64–. 9 March 2018. 1 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200301095701/https://books.google.com/books?id=S9po8ix2VJcC&pg=PT64. live.
  28. Web site: éirígí: For A Socialist Republic . Eirigi.org . 17 June 2010 . 25 January 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090125080053/http://eirigi.org/campaigns/reclaim.htm . dead .
  29. Web site: Israeli workers tell of fear at Gaza protests. 14 January 2009. 12 April 2014. 15 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140415111029/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/israeli-workers-tell-of-fear-at-gaza-protests-1-1880347. live.
  30. Web site: Twentieth Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission . October 2008 . 17 April 2012 . 2 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222023/http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/JELR/20th%20IMC%20Rpt.pdf/Files/20th%20IMC%20Rpt.pdf . live .
  31. News: éirígí launch No campaign. 7 September 2009. 31 May 2016. Irish Democrat. 1 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160701133234/https://archive.irishdemocrat.co.uk/window-on-the-eu/eirigi-launch-no-campaign/. live.
  32. News: Éirígí backs Brexit with Northern Ireland poster campaign. 30 May 2016. The Irish Times. 30 May 2016. 31 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160531120424/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/%C3%A9ir%C3%ADg%C3%AD-backs-brexit-with-northern-ireland-poster-campaign-1.2666248. live.

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