The Irish Spark: Recent Episodes
Irish Spark
The James Connolly Memorial Lecture 2021 will be given by world renowned historian, journalist and Marxist scholar Professor Vijay Prashad. He is an executive-director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and the Chief Editor of LeftWord Books. The author of over 30 books, Vijay will be discussing Capitalism / Imperialism, the global crisis and the relevance of national struggles in the fight against Capitalism / imperialism today.
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Hosted by Three Castles Burning
Historian Donal Fallon sits down with Eugene McCartan of the Communist Party of Ireland to discuss the history of Connolly Books and look back on the centenary of communist activity in Ireland.
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Recorded live at The New Theatre
Tune in for a spoken word and poetry session curated by Emmet Kirwan with guests. Rapper Lethal Dialect takes to the stage for what promises to be another roller coaster performance. DJ set from the inimitable Handsome Paddy.
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Email - theirishspark@gmail.com
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Hosted by Trade Union Left Forum
The Arts industry has been on its knees since the onset of Covid-19. With venues, festivals and many other artistic outlets shut down, the future for the arts and artists in Ireland has never been so precarious. The struggle to make ends meet is very real for many artists today and the prospects of being able to forge a living wage from the arts industry seems to be a losing battle for many. Our guest speakers will be discussing this very subject, coming from a range of artistic disciplines to get their particular perspectives on how working in the arts post-covid will look like.
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Email - theirishspark@gmail.com
Twitter - @TheIrishSpark
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Hosted by Peadar O'Donnell Socialist Republican Forum
Established a century ago and now, the future of the Six County political entity has never been in such doubt. Challenged by demographic trends, British disinterest, an Irish sea border and the distinct possibility of a border poll, the ending of partition and the union with Britain are very much on the political agenda.
Here, three political activists: Eugene McCartan general secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, Paul Stewart author and political scientist and Tommy McKearney of the Peadar O'Donnell Socialist Republican Forum discuss the current situation with and likely future of the North of Ireland.
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Email - theirishspark@gmail.com
Twitter - @TheIrishSpark
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Hosted by Peadar O'Donnell Socialist Republican Forum
A century ago, the political entity that is Northern Ireland was established through a confluence of interest between British Imperialism and the North’s Protestant bourgeoisie. To effect their project, they cynically exploited ancient sectarian fears and prejudices, the consequences of which we live with to this very day.
To recount the history of that seminal time we have with us, two eminent historians; Liz Gillis and Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh.
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Email - theirishspark@gmail.com
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
James Connolly Festival 2021 - Roundtable Discussion
There is a long-established link between economic crises and increases in gender-based violence, and the COVID pandemic has only served to accelerate the next global economic crisis, thus worsening the situation for women and girls around the world.
Members of the Communist Party Of Ireland Women’s Committee have a round table discussion, bringing a Marxist-feminist analysis to gender-based violence, contending that the root cause is the capitalist economic system, which utilises patriarchy and misogyny to create divisions based on gender within the working class.
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Email - theirishspark@gmail.com
Twitter - @TheIrishSpark
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Workers in Ireland are faced with a number of important struggles in 2021. Not least among these, the resurgence of far right politics, racism and fascism in Irish society, a cause for significant alarm. What shape have these reactionary forces taken in today's world, and what can we do to combat them?
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Email - theirishspark@gmail.com
Twitter - @TheIrishSpark
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Hosted by Bang Bang Cafe. We launch the 2021 James Connolly Festival with a discussion around the privatisation of football and pose the question: Can member led clubs prosper?
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Email - theirishspark@gmail.com
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Socialist Voice - https://socialistvoice.ie/
Communist Party - https://communistparty.ie/en/
James Connolly Festival - http://jamesconnollyfestival.com/
Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Michael Roberts, worked in the City of London as an economist for over 40 years. He has closely observed the machinations of global capitalism from within the dragon’s den. Since retiring, he has written several books. The Great Recession – a Marxist view (2009); The Long Depression (2016); Marx 200: a review of Marx’s economics (2018): and jointly with Guglielmo Carchedi as editors of World in Crisis (2018).
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Presentation Slides
John Smith is a marxist economist, researcher and author. He has written extensively on the issues of imperialism and super-exploitation both in his book "Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century" and elsewhere. He is a regular contributor to the Monthly Review, one of the leading and longest running socialist publications.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
We welcome Carole Regan, Women's Organiser for the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Interview with Dr. Paul Oquist, Minister of Presidency & National Policies, Nicaragua.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Interview with Gerald Horne, the author of "The Apocalypse of Settler Colonialism:Roots of Slavery." and his new book "The Dawning of the Apocalypse: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, and Capitalism in the Long Sixteenth Century"
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
A presentation by Professor Michael Doherty, Head of Deparment of Law, Maynooth
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Interview with Sara Boyce of the Participation & Practice of Rights Project (PPR)
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Live streamed interview Margaret Kimberley, Chief political editor Black Agenda Report.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Live streamed interview with Dr. Francisco Domínguez, specialist on Latin America, Middlesex University UK
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Live streamed interview with Guisell Morales-Echaverrry, Nicaraguan Ambassador to the UK & Ireland
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
In this episode we speak with the Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Hugo René Ramos Milanés. Cuba’s response to COVID has been a model for the rest of the world. We discuss how the Cuban health services is dealing with COVID, the role of Cuban international medical brigades and advancements in Cuban medicines in the treatment of the pandemic.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
We continue our series of readings with an article from the Socialist Voice, delivered by the author: Dr Jenny Farrell.
You can find similar publications in Ireland's oldest radical bookshop: Connolly Books.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
We begin our series of readings with an article from the Socialist Voice, delivered by the author: Joe Fleming.
You can find similar publications in Ireland's oldest radical bookshop: Connolly Books.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
To mark the 1 year anniversary of the podcast, we interview Mr Hugo René Ramos Milanés. We discuss life in Cuba in the 21st century and get an insight on the recent new Cuban constitution. Thank you for supporting the show and we hope you stay with us for our 2nd year.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
This is a recording of the panel discussion at Friday’s event of this year’s James Connolly Festival which took place in Connolly Books and the New Theatre Dublin. The speakers include: Clare Daly (MEP), Fatin Al-Tamimi from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Lorraine O’Conner from the Muslim Sisters of Éire and Emily Waszak from Migrants and Ethnic-minorities for Reproductive Justice.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
We have Mel Corry and Stevie Nolan from Trademark Belfast joining us for today's episode. Trademark is somewhat a unique organisation on the island of Ireland. They engage in anti- sectarian work, political education and help to form co-operative workplaces.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Katie returns to perform our fourth reading on the works of James Connolly. This article was first published on the 15th of July 1900.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
For the centenary of the First Dail Eireann and the Irish Soviets, we chat with Historian Donal Fallon about Rosa Luxembourg, James Connolly, Jim Larkin and the Dublin Lockout.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Our guest today is Clare Daly (TD) who gives us a very interesting account of her fact finding mission to Venezuela.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
We interview Mandate Trade Union's Communications Officer, David Gibney on his involvement in the largest campaign in the history of the Irish State, Right2Water. Water is the most profitable commodity on the planet and the Irish people fought fiercely to keep this human right in public ownership and away from the predatory grip of private interests.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Today we interview the general secretary of the Connolly Youth Movement, Alex Homits. The CYM is Ireland's most active and fastest growing youth organisations, attracting many young people with their unique flavour of political activism. Large numbers of people are turning away from politics every year across Ireland, however, the CYM are inspiring many to get involved and work towards the ideals of James Connolly.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Katie returns to perform our third reading on the works of James Connolly. This article was first published on the 16th of June 1900.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Today we bring you another short recorded segment from the centenary celebration of the first Dáil Éireann. John Douglas, the General Secretary of Mandate Trade Union will be speaking about global warming for Motion 3 of the day. So grab your pitchforks and enjoy the show.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
We talk with British Trade Unionist and RMT rail driver Alex Gordon about the working class’s decision to leave the European Union. Lexit which is the left wing exit of the UK from the EU is a materialist look at the reasons why the majority of the population voted to leave and is distinct from Brexit in that it isn’t focused on racism or xenophobia. The Lexit argument is entirely absent from the popular public discourse so we hope you find this conversation a refreshing break from what you’ve been exposed to in the main stream media for the last few years.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Our guest today is John Hilary, Head of Trade Policy for the Labour Party (UK). With Brexit looming around the corner, we discuss the possibility of a hard border in Ireland and the rising threat posed by the far-right across the globe. We apologise in advance for the sound quality for this recording. We spoke outside as it was a calm evening, however, the microphone managed to pick up occasional gusts of wind. We will work hard in the future not to allow this to happen again.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
We have a short recorded segment from the centenary celebration of the first Dáil Eireann in Liberty Hall. Motion 2 was announced by Alex Homits, the General Secretary of the Connolly Youth Movement, followed by Clare Daly, Teachta Dála for Dublin Fingal constituency.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
Katie returns to perform our second reading on the works of James Connolly. This article was first published on the 10th of June 1899.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
In this episode we have an exclusive interview with journalist Paul Dobson about the current situation in Venezuela as it stands today.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
For this episode we have the first in a series of readings on the works of James Connolly. This performance will be done by professional actor and writer, Katie O’Kelly.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
In this episode, Eugene speaks with Carolus Wimmer who is the International Secretary of the Communist Party of Venezuela. Carolus shares his insight about life in Venezuela in the lead up to the dramatic current events facing the people there.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
In this episode, James interviews Akiem and Olusegun from South Africa. They discuss their country's current political situation in addition to them hosting the first international Marxist conference on the African continent.
The vision of their Mzala Nxumalo Centre: For the Study of South African Society is to be a centre of left-wing thought and practice by the promotion of the National Question through political and academically sound research, training and public engagement.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
In our second episode, fellow Irish Spark host, Eugene McCartan, Interviews Paul Keating, an Australian trade unionist from the newly formed Maritime Union of Australia. Paul tells us about the current state of the working class in Australia from a unique perspective which we hope you find very interesting.
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill
In the inaugural episode, James interviews Dr. Conor McCabe on his new book: Money, as well as his thoughts on the current state of Ireland.
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Twitter - @TheIrishSpark
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Artwork: Moira Murphy
Music: Eoghan O'Neill