Communist Party of Ireland

The Communist Party of Ireland formed in 1970 following a merger of the Irish Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Northern Ireland. Michael O'Riordan, a member of the Communist Party of Ireland (1933), became general secretary and would remain in that role until 1983. In March 1970, following the CPNI/IWP merger, the new Communist Party of Ireland issued a manifesto called For Unity and Socialism, advocating the election of left-wing governments in both parts of Ireland, and, eventually, the creation of a United Ireland.Milotte, p. 281–282.

One notable split from the CPI was the Eurocommunist group the Irish Marxist Society, which left the CPI around 1976. The IMS was founded by Joe Deasy (1922–2013), Sam Nolan (1930-), Paddy Carmody, George Jeffares, Mick O'Reilly (1946-) and other former CPI members."With other former members he established the Irish Marxist Society. Eventually he returned to the Labour Party and remained a member until his death." [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/obituaries/2013/0209/1224329840541.html Activist who made 'inspiring' contribution to Irish left] Obituary of Joe Deasy, The Irish Times, 9 February 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. The IMS advocated Marxist feminismWhat's on Today? Irish Times, 23 June 1976, (p. 19) advertises a speech by Naomi Wayne on "Marxist Feminism" on behalf of the IMS. and was also outspoken in its rejection of the two nations theory of Northern Ireland.Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations by Peter Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005 (p. 224–225). Most of the IMS's members later joined the Irish Labour Party,Eagle or Cuckoo? The Story of the ATGWU in Ireland by Matt Merrigan. Matmer Publications, Ireland, 1989 (p. 316). where they played a leading role in the formation of Labour Left.{{Cite book|title=Sam Nolan: A Long March on the Left|last=Kenny|first=Brian|publisher=Personal History Publishing|year=2010|location=Dublin}}

The CPI strongly criticised the Anglo-Irish Agreement, claiming the AIA "underlined Partition and gave Britain a direct say in the affairs of the Republic"."Agreement attacked as imperialist", Jim Cusack, The Irish Times, 3 February 1986, p. 9 In the 1980s, its membership declined significantly during the electoral rise of the Workers' Party and this trend continued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The party's aim is to win the support of the majority of the Irish people for ending the capitalist system and for building socialism. It is actively opposed to neo-liberalism and to the European Union.

Autobiographical accounts of the party in this period have been written by Mick O'Reilly,{{Cite book|title=From Lucifer to Lazarus|last=O'Reilly|first=Mick|publisher=Lilliput Press|year=2019|location=Dublin}} Helena Sheehan{{Cite book|title=Navigating the Zeitgeist|last=Sheehan|first=Helena|publisher=Monthly Review Press|year=2019|location=New York}} and Kevin McMahon.{{Cite book|title=Organiser|last=McMahon|first=Kevin|publisher=SIPTU|year=2017 |location=Dublin}}

The party stood two candidates in the 2014 local elections, neither was elected.{{Cite web|url=https://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/|title=Communist Party of Ireland / Páirtí Cumannach na hÉireann|website=www.communistpartyofireland.ie}} The CPI fielded one candidate for the 2016 Dáil Éireann election for the Cork North-West constituency.{{Cite web|url=https://electionsireland.org/party.cfm?election=2016&party=CPI&order=ConstituencyName&elected=all|title=ElectionsIreland.org: Party Candidates|website=electionsireland.org}}

In January 2021, the Connolly Youth Movement dropped its support for the programme of the CPI.[https://cym.ie/2021/01/18/cym-statement-on-disaffiliation/ CYM Statement of Disaffiliation] Connolly Youth Movement, www.cym.ie, January 18, 2021. In February, the CPI issued a statement stating that several dual (CPI-CYM) members had been expelled for severe breaches of discipline and factional behaviour within the CPI prior to the CYM's decision to drop its support for the programme of the CPI.[https://communistpartyofireland.ie/r-2021-02-09.html] Statement on CPI-CYM relations, February 9, 2021.

On 2 June 2021, the CPI released a statement distancing itself from its former Belfast branch due to the actions of former party members in the city. The statement also announced the founding of a new Greater Belfast branch to replace the Belfast branch and noted that the branch's social media pages and Unity newspaper were still in the hands of the former members of the Belfast branch.{{Cite web|url=https://communistparty.ie/en/2021/06/belfast-communist-party-of-ireland-statement/|title=Belfast Communist Party of Ireland Statement|date=2 June 2021}}{{cite news |last= |first= |date=16 December 2021 |title=LEFT SPLINTER GROUP SPLINTERS |url=https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/left-splinter-group-splinters/ |work=The Phoenix |location= |access-date=18 December 2021}}

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the party called for an immediate ceasefire and political solution to bring about a "demilitarised, neutral Ukraine", saying it was an "inter-imperialist war".{{cite web |title=End the war in Ukraine- Dismantle NATO |date=27 February 2022 |url=https://communistparty.ie/en/2022/02/end-the-war-in-ukraine-dismantle-nato-2/ |publisher=communistparty.ie}} The CPI opposes the Ukrainian Government, stating the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution was a US-backed "coup". The CPI blamed the war on "the expansion of NATO", stating it had built up "large bases of troops and mass destructive weapons along [Russia's] western and southern borders".{{cite news |title=Irish communists say engagement in Ukraine threatens neutrality |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/irish-communists-say-engagement-in-ukraine-threatens-neutrality |work=Morning Star |date=16 November 2022}} When it was announced the Irish Defence Forces would train Ukraine's military in mine clearing,{{cite news |title=Ireland set to provide training for Ukraine to clear Russian landmines |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2022/10/17/ireland-may-provide-training-for-ukraine-to-clear-russian-landmines/ |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=17 October 2022}} the CPI condemned this as "collaboration of the Irish political establishment in the NATO-EU strategy to escalate and prolong the war in Ukraine".

In 2022, a group seceded from the CPI, citing "political and organisational issues", with the name "Irish Communist Party". It claims to be a successor to the CPI, stating that an "opportunistic and anti-democratic faction" had taken control of the party. The interim National Chairperson is Eoin Ó Murchú.{{cite web |title=Irish Communist Party - About|url=https://irishcommunistparty.ie/about/ |access-date=17 June 2024}}{{Primary source inline|date=June 2024}}

The general secretary of the party is Jimmy Corcoran. The CPI publishes a monthly magazine called Socialist Voice. There are also branches in Cork, Galway, Munster, and Mid-Ulster.

While it is a registered party, the CPI has rarely run candidates in elections and has never had electoral success. The CPI operates a bookshop in Dublin called Connolly Books, which is named after the Irish socialist James Connolly.

The party and its members are prominent in a number of campaigns such as advocating a "No" vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendums.Conor McCabe, {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120710193449/http://dublinopinion.com/2009/10/03/lisbon-a-statement-by-the-communist-party-of-ireland/ "Lisbon Treaty Referendum: A statement by the Communist Party of Ireland"]}}, 3 October 2009. The party has also advocated a referendum on the Irish bailout of banks.Communists call for referendum on non-payment of debt to 'foreign banksers', by Mary Minihan, Irish Times, Saturday, 5 March 2011 It also continues to oppose the European Union and membership of the euro currency.{{Cite web |url=http://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/RD.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223163046/http://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/RD.pdf |archive-date=23 February 2015 |url-status=dead }} The CPI set up the Repudiate The Debt campaign to further this objective. In the 2010s, the CPI was active in Right2Water Ireland and called for a constitutional amendment to enshrine ownership of water in the hands of the Irish people and not the state.{{Cite web |url=http://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/sv2014-11/01-water.html |title=Communist Party of Ireland |access-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223163530/http://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/sv2014-11/01-water.html |archive-date=23 February 2015 |url-status=dead }} The party also supported the anti-war movement in Ireland as part of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance.

In November 2017, the Standards in Public Office Commission stated that some statements of accounts had been received from the CPI, but they were found not to be compliant because the accounts were not audited. It decided against appointing a public auditor as the CPI did not receive any funding from the exchequer.{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/political-parties-statements-accounts-sipo-3722678-Nov2017/|title=Nearly half of Ireland's political parties failed to submit accounts to watchdog|publisher=TheJournal.ie|last=Burke|first=Ceimin|date=29 November 2017|access-date=1 December 2017}}

• 1970–1983: Michael O'Riordan
• 1984–2001: Jimmy Stewart
• 2002–2023: Eugene McCartan
• 2023–present: Jimmy Corcoran

• 1970–1983: Andy Barr
• 1983–1989: Michael O'Riordan
• 1989–2001: Eugene McCartan
• 2001–2004: Jimmy Stewart
• 2004–2017: Lynda Walker
• 2018–2021: John Pinkerton
• 2021–2022: Janelle McAteer
• 2023–present: Ciara Ní Mhaoilfhinn

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|communistpartyofireland.ie}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/user/ConnollyMediaGroup Connolly Media Group] at YouTube
• [http://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/pairti.html History of the Communist Movement in Ireland]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091028114127/http://geocities.com/IrelandSCW/docs-CHsiege.htm The storming of CPI headquarters, Connolly House (1933)]
• [http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/archive-index/ Irish Left Online Document Archive] – Contains PDF documents of CPI material, with commentary
• [https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/categories/top-documentaries/play/?pid=6327929423112&title=Reds%20na%20h%C3%89ireann&series=Reds%20na%20h%C3%89ireann&genre=Faisneis&pcode=646905 "Reds na hÉireann"] TV documentary exploring communism in Ireland until the fall of the Soviet Union.

{{Political parties in Ireland}}

{{Political parties in Northern Ireland}}

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Category:Active communist parties in Ireland

Category:1970 establishments in Ireland

Category:All-Ireland political parties

Category:Communist parties in Ireland

Category:Communist parties in Northern Ireland

Category:Far-left politics in Ireland

Category:International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties