Saor Éire (; ) was a far-left political organisation in the

Irish Free State The Irish Free State (6 December 192229 December 1937), also known by its Irish-language, Irish name ( , ), was a State (polity), state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-ye ...

established in September 1931 by

communist Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, di ...

-leaning members of the

Irish Republican Army The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various Resistance movement, resistance organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dominantly Catholic and dedicated to anti-imperiali ...

, with the backing of the IRA leadership. Notable among its founders was

Peadar O'Donnell Peadar O'Donnell (; 22 February 1893 – 13 May 1986) was one of the foremost radicals of 20th-century Ireland. O'Donnell became prominent as an Irish republican, socialist politician and writer. Early life Peadar O'Donnell was born into an I ...

, former editor of ''

An Phoblacht ''An Phoblacht'' (Irish pronunciation: ; ) is a Sinn Féin-affiliated online Irish republicanism, Irish republican news platform which also publishes a quarterly print magazine format. Editorially the paper takes a Left-wing politics, left-wing ...

'' and a leading far-left figure in the IRA. Saor Éire described itself as "an organisation of workers and working farmers". It has been suggested that the support of the then IRA chief of staff,

Moss (Maurice) Twomey Maurice Twomey (; 10 June 1897 – October 1978) was an Irish Republicanism, Irish republican and the longest serving List of IRA Chiefs of Staff, chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Early life Twomey was born in 1897 in Clo ...

, was instrumental in the organisation's establishment. However,

Tim Pat Coogan Timothy Patrick "Tim Pat" Coogan (born 22 April 1935) is an Irish journalist, writer and broadcaster. He served as editor of ''The Irish Press'' newspaper from 1968 to 1987. He has been best known for such books as ''The IRA'', ''Ireland Since t ...

claimed that Twomey was doubtful about the organisation, worrying about involvement in electoral politics and possible communist influence. During its short existence Saor Éire used the republican publication ''

'', under the editorship of Frank Ryan between 1926–1933, to report on its progress and to promote its far-left republican views.

History

On the weekend of 26 to 27 September 1931, Saor Éire held its first conference in Dublin at Iona Hall. One hundred and fifty delegates from both the

and

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

attended the conference against a background of police raids on the houses and offices connected with Saor Éire and ''An Phoblacht''. Seán Hayes was chairman, while David Fitzgerald (Tipperary) acted as secretary. The party was formed by a socialist faction of the IRA in the late 1920s and 30s used the writing of

James Connolly James Connolly (; 5 June 1868 – 12 May 1916) was a Scottish people, Scottish-born Irish republicanism, Irish republican, socialist, and trade union leader, executed for his part in the Easter Rising, 1916 Easter Rising against British rule i ...

and

Liam Mellows William Joseph Mellows (, 25 May 1892 – 8 December 1922) was an Irish republicanism, Irish republican and Sinn Féin politician. Born in England to an English father and Irish mother, he grew up in Ashton-under-Lyne before moving to Ireland, ...

as their ideological basis. The conference elected an executive of Hayes, Fitzgerald, Sean McGuinness, May Laverty (Belfast), Helena Molony, Sheila Dowling, Sheila Humphreys, D. McGinley, Mick Fitzpatrick,

Seán MacBride Seán MacBride (26 January 1904 – 15 January 1988) was an Irish Republican activist, politician, and diplomat who served as Minister for External Affairs from 1948 to 1951, Leader of Clann na Poblachta from 1946 to 1965 and Chief of Staff o ...

, Michael Price, Peadar O'Donnell, Mick Hallissey (Kerry), M. O'Donnell (Offaly), Patrick McCormack (Antrim), Tom Kenny (Galway), L. Brady (Laois), Nicholas Boran (Kilkenny), John Mulgrew (Mayo) and

Tom Maguire Tom Maguire (28 March 1892 – 5 July 1993) was an Irish republicanism, Irish republican who held the rank of commandant-general in the Western Command of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and led the South County Mayo, Mayo flying column. Earl ...

(Westmeath). George Gilmore and Frank Ryan were also involved. The constitution elaborated upon the aims by describing a two-phase programme. The first phase was described as being one of organisation and propagandising in order to organise a solid front for mass resistance to the oppressors. This would build upon the day-to-day resistance and activity towards "rents, annuities, evictions, seizures, bank sales, lock-outs, strikes and wage-cuts." This challenge, it was believed, would lead to power passing from the hands of the imperialists to the masses. The second phase was one of consolidation of power through the organisation of the economy and a workers' and working farmers' republic. Ideologically Saor Éire adhered to the Irish socialist republicanism developed by

and Peadar O'Donnell. As a consequence of the heavy influence of O'Donnell, Saor Éire strongly advocated the revival of Gaelic culture and the involvement of the poorer rural working communities in any rise against the Irish

capitalist Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their use for the purpose of obtaining profit. This socioeconomic system has developed historically through several stages and is defined by ...

institutions and British imperialism. Sean McBride described the organisation at its launch like this: The organisation was attacked by the centre-right press and the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

as a dangerous communist group. In October 1931, the Catholic Church in Ireland issued a

pastoral letter A pastoral letter, often simply called a pastoral, is an open letter addressed by a bishop to the clergy or laity of a diocese or to both, containing general admonition, instruction or consolation, or directions for behaviour in particular circu ...

condemning the Irish Republican Army, Saor Éire and other left-wing groups in Ireland, which they accused of being communist and atheist in nature. The letter stated that Saor Éire was a "frankly communistic organisation trying to impose upon the Catholic soil of Ireland the same materialistic regime, with its fanatic hatred of God, as now dominates Russia and threatens to dominate Spain". Another section of the letter stated: "You cannot be a Catholic and a Communist. One stands for Christ, the other for Anti-Christ". Saor Eire was quickly thereafter banned by the Free State government. The strength of reaction against Saor Eire prevented it from becoming an effective political organisation. Two years later, in 1933, O'Donnell and his supporters attempted a similar initiative with the establishment of the

Republican Congress The Republican Congress () was an Irish republican political organisation founded in 1934, when pro-communist republicans left the Anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army. The Congress was led by such anti-Treaty veterans as Peadar O'Donnell, Frank ...

Policies

The constitution listed the organisation’s objectives as being: # To achieve an independent revolutionary leadership for the working class and working farmers towards the overthrow of British imperialism and its ally, Irish capitalism. # To organise and consolidate the Republic of Ireland on the basis of the possession and administration by the workers and working farmers, of the land, instruments of production, distribution, and exchange. # To restore and foster the Irish language, culture, and games.''An Phoblacht'', 17 October 1931

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saor Eire 1931 disestablishments in Ireland 1931 establishments in Ireland Communist organisations in Ireland Defunct organisations based in Northern Ireland Defunct organisations based in the Republic of Ireland Irish Republican Army (1922–1969) Irish republican organisations Organizations disestablished in 1931 Organizations established in 1931 Socialist organisations in the United Kingdom

History

Policies

See also

References