Bring back the IRB

Memorial to South London Fenian and Socialist Connell

With the centenary of the Easter Rising imminent, it was felt appropriate that some way of taking stock of the anniversary be found. In the spirit of brotherhood, it was also decided that the sacrifice of the 36th Ulster Division at the Somme in 1916 also be reviewed in light of how the nation's history has splintered.

The Republican project, as the likes of Michael Davitt and South London's own Jim Connell proved, is much more than a peculiarly Irish preoccupation.
The English working class experience was central to the development of both these men's political journeys and maybe now when we speak of the 'IRB' we should be talking of an International Republican Brotherhood dedicated to extending the rights of Socialist Republicanism to our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands.

Make no mistake about the effects of Irish Republicanism. Check out the bloggers who are reading books like John Mitchel's Jail Journal. They're not from the Falls or Crossmaglen, they're from Tibet and Nepal.