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Soviet na hEireann - Excellent program from TG4 again

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  • 15-04-2010 12:02pm
    #1
    SlabMurphy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭


    Last night a documentary on the Limerick Soviet* in 1919 and the general labour struggles of the period 1919 - 1923 was on yet another excellent documentary from TG4. It also featured about the struggle between farm labourers and farm owners in Waterford and south Tipperary post Treaty ( Free State army put down the Labourers who were vertually slaves male and female house servants alike ).

    Their were very many aspects to it, most I could agree with, some not. To be honest, it was written from a very left point of view, it seemed to me anyway that they were implying a 32 county Irish workers revoulotion was almost on the verge of succeding, when although their was widespread agitiation, it wasn't to the depth or extent as the program made out. Though I would agree that the Free Sate govt. were very much on the side of conservativeism, capitalism and of course the Catholic church. With personality's like Arthur Griffith ( I remember reading Ernie O'Malley's On Another Mans Wound that many IRA men secretly questioned if Griffith was a republican at all in his political beliefs even before the Treaty) and Cosgrove and former Redmondites like Kevin O'Higgins dominating nothing but the same old regieme could about.

    Anyway, make up your own minds.

    Here's the first part http://live.tg4.ie/main.aspx?level=Faisneis&content=72024237057

    And the rest http://live.tg4.ie/main.aspx?level=Faisneis


    *More on the Limerick Soviet of 1919, or the Limerick General Strike as it sometimes called.
    http://www.limericksoviet.com/Introduction.html


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    #2
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users Posts: 23,982 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    I knew about the Limerick Soviet, but didn't realise how widespread the idea was. I'd heard about the "agitators" in North Kerry (some of my ancestors were causing mayhem on the one of the huge estates), and various other places for instance, but didn't know anything about the politics of it. For me, it was an eye-opener.

    From the programme, it seemed that the agricultural workers were led up the garden path before being well and truly shafted for their efforts.

    As usual, the Catholic Church's attitude was no surprise.

    I'm thinking that, had they succeded in forming a 32 county socialist republic, Britain would have treated Ireland in the same way that the US has treated Cuba (or even worse had they decided to return in force and nip the regime in the bud). I also suppose that the Russians would have backed the new republic to the hilt, and would have liked the opportunity of having a military presence on Britain's doorstep.

    Is there mention anywhere of any Russian presence while it was all going on? I know that there's mention of money from Moscow, but did they have any people on the ground here?


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    #3
    sensibleken
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,650 ✭✭✭sensibleken


    SlabMurphy wrote: »
    ( I remember reading Ernie O'Malley's On Another Mans Wound that many IRA men secretly questioned if Griffith was a republican at all in his political beliefs even before the Treaty)

    he was a dual monarchist though wasnt he.

    thanks for the links i missed the start of it again. TG4 is the only good irish station


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    #4
    Tarzan007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 104 ✭✭Tarzan007


    ejmaztec wrote: »
    I knew about the Limerick Soviet, but didn't realise how widespread the idea was. I'd heard about the "agitators" in North Kerry (some of my ancestors were causing mayhem on the one of the huge estates), and various other places for instance, but didn't know anything about the politics of it. For me, it was an eye-opener.

    From the programme, it seemed that the agricultural workers were led up the garden path before being well and truly shafted for their efforts.

    As usual, the Catholic Church's attitude was no surprise.

    I'm thinking that, had they succeded in forming a 32 county socialist republic, Britain would have treated Ireland in the same way that the US has treated Cuba (or even worse had they decided to return in force and nip the regime in the bud). I also suppose that the Russians would have backed the new republic to the hilt, and would have liked the opportunity of having a military presence on Britain's doorstep.

    Is there mention anywhere of any Russian presence while it was all going on? I know that there's mention of money from Moscow, but did they have any people on the ground here?
    Russains had more than enough problems of it's own with a civil war raging. Ireland wouldn't have been on their radar whatsoever so I don't see how there could be Russian money invovled or think they'd have a presence here.


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    #5
    brianthebard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,165 ✭✭✭✭brianthebard


    Tarzan007 wrote: »
    Russains had more than enough problems of it's own with a civil war raging. Ireland wouldn't have been on their radar whatsoever so I don't see how there could be Russian money invovled or think they'd have a presence here.

    I agree that there probably wasn't any Russian influence during this period, but Russia/Soviets would have been well aware of the rising and revolution in Ireland, and Lenin had written about Easter 1916 a few months after the event.


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