BORN IN AN area of Edinburgh, Scotland commonly referred to as “Little Ireland” to Irish immigrants 155 years ago, James Connolly would go on to make a big impact on the country his parents left.
In school, we’re taught about some of the events and lasting effects of the 1913 Dublin lock-out and the 1916 Easter Rising. We’re told about some of the important and inspiring individuals involved in the fight for a free and fair Ireland, amongst them was James Connolly. Connolly’s impact with trade unionism, socialism and fighting for equality as well as instilling a great understanding and appreciation of national identity continues to live on in Ireland.
One outlet perpetuating his work is Connolly Books, Ireland’s oldest radical bookshop opened in 1932. Situated in Dublin’s Temple Bar, nearby many of the landmarks associated with Connolly and the aforementioned events in early 20th-century Irish history, the bookshop has been a vital resource for those interested in anything from Marxist literature and texts exploring various political, feminist and environmental ideologies.
Today, over 100 years after his execution on May 12, 1916, Connolly’s legacy is celebrated with a week-long festival honouring his life and work. The James Connolly Festival, taking place this year between May 8 to 14, seeks to inspire vital discussions through a series of community-centred events that are both culturally and politically based.
Aaron Nolan, who works with the James Connolly Festival as the festival organiser, tells The Journal about the core ethos and aims of the festival: “Since the inception of The James Connolly Festival 9 years ago, we’ve sought to promote progressive arts, culture, and politics, providing a platform of discussion and debate for those seeking alternatives in a world where the lives of the many are dominated by the few. We challenge social inequality and the class barriers with which the arts are fraught, encouraging an inclusive and collective approach to artistic expression.”
Nolan continues, “Our annual festival serves as a celebration of the rich working-class culture that exists in Ireland and provides a space for the people of our ever-evolving country to express the wealth of their culture and articulate their experience of life.”
In demonstrating the excellent dynamism across the festival programme, Nolan highlights some unmissable events taking place over the week. “We’re very excited to host trade unionist Eddie Dempsey who some will recognise as the right-hand man of Mick Lynch over the past year of train strikes in Britain. We’re glad to see the return of theatre to the festival, as well. The Daughters of Róisín by Aoibh Johnson is a poignant ode to Ireland’s hidden past that explores the church and state-sanctioned abuse against women over the last 100 years. Also, of high importance, is the discussion that will take place around Irish neutrality. We’ll invite existing and former MEP’s Mick Wallace and Patricia McKenna to the talk and will also include academic Dr Karen Devine.”
Each year, the festival focuses on a particular theme to provide a foundation for the programme to broaden attendees’ understanding of a particular topic, as Nolan notes. “At the heart of this year’s festival is the question of war and peace. We’ll have panel discussions on the question of Irish neutrality and the 75th anniversary of Nakba in Palestine. Our penultimate event, the James Connolly Memorial Lecture will focus on the threat of a new world war. Beyond that, we’ll host talks, plays and movie screenings around issues of racism, women’s liberation and trade unionism.”
Aside from cultivating a sense of community through the festival, be it through striking up a conversation in the aftermath of one of the discussions held at The New Theatre or at The Connolly Rave, one of the core incentives behind The James Connolly Festival is to educate people. “We would hope that having provided a space for discussion and the development of ideas people would come away from these events with a better understanding of the world around them. Ultimately, we hope that people come away feeling empowered and invigorated to get out there and get involved in bringing about change,” says Nolan.
Over the years, the festival has brought like-minded people together and inspired thought-provoking conversations. When asked about some of his favourite memories from previous years of The James Connolly Festival, Nolan recalls a particularly powerful moment.
“Without doubt, the highlight of the past few years was in 2018 when The New Theatre was treated to an impromptu performance by Christy Moore. We were hosting an event to commemorate those Irishmen who had lost their lives fighting fascism in the Spanish civil war. Christy’s song ‘Viva La Quinta Brigade’ was borne out of his reading of famous Irish communist leader Michael O’Riordans book Connolly Column in which he recounts his time fighting in Spain.”
The James Connolly Festival will be taking place in various venues in Dublin’s City Centre between May 8 and 14. Further information and tickets for this year’s James Connolly Festival can be found on their website.
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