Collection of material related to the Irish and British Labour Parties and the Anti-Partition of Ireland League (Britain),
[1936-1952]
The collection contains pamphlets, letters, propaganda leaflets and some ephemera and newspaper cuttings related to sectarianism in Northern Ireland; the British 'Ireland Bill' of 1949, a perceived change of policy in the British Labour Party towards partition and efforts of the Anti-Partition of Ireland League (Britain) to have the Bill amended; the British Labour Party Conference of 1949 and Irish delegates attending; also some varied material on the lack of readiness of the Irish Republic regarding the reality of a united Ireland.
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| Contributors: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Physical description: 23 items. |
| Arrangement: | Fonds |
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Typescript draft of Larkin Memorial Lecture,
[1952]
| In Collection: | Collection of material related to the Irish and British Labour Parties and the Anti-Partition of Ireland League (Britain) |
|---|---|
| Description: | The speaker gives an overview of some of the achievements of the Irish Republic, but urges the Irish Labour Movement to examine the conditions and problems of the present time 'with some of big Jim's own frankness'. He discusses the issues of partition, unemployment, lack of adequate social services, emigration and a divided trade union movement. He warns against a 'partition mentality', which seems to have developed amongst some trade unionists and government leaders, with some calling for twenty-six county based unions. He denounces sectarianism of any kind, and while criticising the sectarian rule of the Unionists in the North of Ireland, adds that Labour is the only party which contains both Protestants and Catholics. 'A Labour speaker who imagines himself a super patriot whether of the Irish or British brand ... has ceased to be Labour and is playing the Tory game'. He disagrees both with the advocates of physical force and the advocates of abstention, explaining why these policies would not work in the present situation. In discussing the eventuality of Irish unity, he asks what realistic plans are being made to deal with economic issues and differences in social services and legal systems in the two jurisdictions. He asks if the Republic's constitution is 'sufficiently elastic to stand up to the impact of over 800,000 Protestants'. He mentions the divisions in the Labour Party in the North, and ends by encouraging the Irish Labour Party to rekindle the idealistic spirit of the past. |
| Main Creator: | |
| Language: | English |
| Extent: | 1 item (6 sheets). |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Call Number: |
MS 49,747/12
(Manuscripts Reading Room) |
| Rights: | Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland. |
| Corporate Author: | Labour Party (Ireland) |