24/10/2025
Irish Republicanism, since it’s foundation in the 1790s has been a progressive revolutionary ideology that is firmly internationalist in its outlook.
The United Irishmen made alliances with Revolutionary France, and it’s leadership were openly hostile to the idea of slavery, standing in solidarity with oppressed people around the world.
The Young Ireland Movement was in contact with the revolutionaries of other nations and viewed the fight against British Rule as part of the wider anti colonial struggle of the 1840s.
The Fenians took this a step further by taking international action in support of Irish Freedom by bringing the fight to British positions in Canada, organising firmly among the Irish diaspora and becoming an observer organisation at the International Workingmen’s Association, who actively promoted the joint fight of the International Working Class against colonialism and capitalism.
By 1916, the Internationalist principle of Irish Republicanism was firmly established and personified in the Great Socialist Republican, James Connolly, who placed the fight for Irish freedom firmly in the context of the fight for working class liberation and thus has remained the principled position of Irish Republicanism since that time. Those that would argue against this would do well to remember that internationalism is enshrined within the lines of the Proclamation of the Republic.
There were mass demonstrations across Ireland in support of the Bolshevik Revolution, and Irish Republicans celebrated that Revolution as an international victory against Monarchy and Imperialism.
The Revolutionary Irish Republican Government established in January 1919 immediately set about making international links for the Republic, including making contact and receiving support from the Soviet Government and also with Indian Revolutionaries inspired by the Irish fight for freedom who modelled their flag on our tricolour.
With the violent suppression of the Republic, the IRA continued to develop international links so as to continue the fight for freedom. Throughout the 1920s links were made with emerging Revolutionary and Anti colonial governments and organisations, delegations went to the Soviet Union, and elsewhere, and the leadership of the IRA continued to have an internationalist view of our fight for Freedom.
In the 1930s, as Fascism raised its head in Europe, Republicans fresh from defeating the Irish Fascists/Blueshirts on the streets, mobilised through the Republican Congress and went to Spain to fight in defence of freedom, seeing that struggle very much as part of our own fight for Freedom.
In the 50s and 60s, Irish Republicans were actively supportive of the Revolutionaries in China and Vietnam who were demonstrating how People’s Armies can win victories against Imperialism and actively began to build links with Revolutionaries in Greece and the Middle East all actively pursuing their fight for freedom.
With the reorganisation of the IRA in 1969, internationalism remained a key principle for the IRA and while the war was raging here, IRA Volunteers were actively supporting and training liberation movements in the Basque Country, South Africa, Palestine and Lebanon. The revolutionary links between Irish Republicans and Gaddafi’s Libya, and Castro’s Cuba are well documented.
Revolutionary Irish Socialist Republicans stand in a proud history of Internationalism. Our fight for national liberation is part of the international fight of the working class for the defeat of Imperialism.
The fascists and far right agitators that are attempting to mislead the working class have nothing to do with Irish Republicanism and can never claim our proud history and tradition. These agitators will wave the tricolour on one day while desecrating it the next by standing with Loyalists, terrorists and MI5 agents under the Union Jack.
The fascist and far right agitators care nothing for our communities. They are happy to misled working class youth, see them gaoled and walk away. These anti social elements are the enemies of our communities
The Free State and British Imperialism have deliberately mismanaged immigration in Ireland to divide the working class. They are happy for us to be at each others throats because it distracts from them as the real criminals.
Anger at the mismanagement of immigration should be directed at the reactionary state who have neglected our communities for generations,has refused to engage in consultation with our communities and has refused to provide us with resources. The anger should never be aimed at the migrants or IPAS centres that house them. It achieves nothing and lets those who have caused the issue off the hook.
Ask yourself why the far right and fascists don’t propose this? This answer is because they work hand and glove with the state.
Irish Republicanism is anti racist, anti fascist and anti imperialist. It always will be. Aim at the real enemies of the working class - the Free State and British Imperialism.
