I remember Eddie from my own years in the IRSP and recall a tireless worker for the republican socialist movement as a whole despite suffering a serious disability. Eddie was wheelchair bound for many years, a condition which would have drained the strength and determination of lesser men.
Eddie saw the struggle of the working-class and that of the national liberation struggle as one of the same. What would be the use of national liberation without the working-class in control? This was and, I understand still is the policy of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement. Under the slogan of “national liberation and socialism” was the basis the IRSM waged its war, not only against the occupying forces but also the indigenous capitalist class.
Eddie McGarrigle recognised the need for the primacy of politics over that of the armed struggle, though the two complemented each other. This was a continuation along the road laid out by the late Gino Gallagher, a continuation Eddie firmly believed in and acted accordingly. It was perhaps because of this policy, covering the class and national question(s) which caused both the 26 county and six county states, propped up in the latter case by the British Crown, to come down with acute repression on the IRSM. As per usual Eddied did not allow his disability to weaken his resolve which he also expected from his comrades.
Eddie along with a team of IRSP comrades was instrumental in organising a series of seminars at the Peace and Reconciliation Centre at Glencree, a peaceful setting in the Wicklow Mountains. The object of these seminars was to take an alternative look at the problems faced by the Irish Working-Class including the foreign occupation of the six-counties. As the name of the setting suggests these were moves in IRSP policy towards a peaceful resolution to these problems, while at the same time and at that time not ruling out, if all else fails, the right to wage armed struggle by the military arm of the movement, the INLA. This was top be a secondary action after all peaceful methods had been exhausted. The policy of the IRSM has shifted since 2010 towards a peaceful political resolution when the INLA called an indefinite ceasefire which I understand is holding to this day. Eddie was instrumental in bringing this cessation to pass.
Eddie McGarrigle was a man who always, as I remember him, spoke his mind even if this upset some people. He did not take fools gladly, rightly believing if he could do it so could the more able-bodied comrades in the movement.
The likes of Eddie will be a rarity in the future as his tireless determination to build the IRSP giving the primacy of politics - many based on a document written by the late Tomas Ta Power which outlined his view, even though he was an INLA volunteer, of how politics should take priority over the armed struggle, again while at the same time complimenting such struggle. Eddie went to superhuman lengths, again given his serious health problems, to bring Power's document from the paper it was written on into reality.
Speaking as an outsider, though remaining sympathetic, these days I can only speak of my own memories of IRSP activist Eddie McGarrigle. I imagine he will be seen as a huge loss to the Republican Socialist Movement who will be unlikely to be replaced.
RIP Eddie, a sad loss to the IRSP of that I’m sure and, indeed, the broader socialist and republican movements.
Eddie McGarrigle recognised the need for the primacy of politics over that of the armed struggle, though the two complemented each other. This was a continuation along the road laid out by the late Gino Gallagher, a continuation Eddie firmly believed in and acted accordingly. It was perhaps because of this policy, covering the class and national question(s) which caused both the 26 county and six county states, propped up in the latter case by the British Crown, to come down with acute repression on the IRSM. As per usual Eddied did not allow his disability to weaken his resolve which he also expected from his comrades.
Eddie along with a team of IRSP comrades was instrumental in organising a series of seminars at the Peace and Reconciliation Centre at Glencree, a peaceful setting in the Wicklow Mountains. The object of these seminars was to take an alternative look at the problems faced by the Irish Working-Class including the foreign occupation of the six-counties. As the name of the setting suggests these were moves in IRSP policy towards a peaceful resolution to these problems, while at the same time and at that time not ruling out, if all else fails, the right to wage armed struggle by the military arm of the movement, the INLA. This was top be a secondary action after all peaceful methods had been exhausted. The policy of the IRSM has shifted since 2010 towards a peaceful political resolution when the INLA called an indefinite ceasefire which I understand is holding to this day. Eddie was instrumental in bringing this cessation to pass.
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| IRSP members at Glencree. Eddie is second from the end, front row in his wheelchair |
The likes of Eddie will be a rarity in the future as his tireless determination to build the IRSP giving the primacy of politics - many based on a document written by the late Tomas Ta Power which outlined his view, even though he was an INLA volunteer, of how politics should take priority over the armed struggle, again while at the same time complimenting such struggle. Eddie went to superhuman lengths, again given his serious health problems, to bring Power's document from the paper it was written on into reality.
Speaking as an outsider, though remaining sympathetic, these days I can only speak of my own memories of IRSP activist Eddie McGarrigle. I imagine he will be seen as a huge loss to the Republican Socialist Movement who will be unlikely to be replaced.
RIP Eddie, a sad loss to the IRSP of that I’m sure and, indeed, the broader socialist and republican movements.
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Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist |
I knew Eddie and came to appreciate the depth of character of the man. Intensely loyal without being blindly obedient. He and I attended an IRSP function in Bray a few years back. The drink was flowing that night and the two of us were on the dance floor - me on my feet (just about) and him in his wheelchair. Such spirit.
ReplyDeleteThats what made the man somewhat unique, Anthony, against all the odds he kept going. Many would have run out of energy and will, not Eddie.
ReplyDeleteCaoimhin O'Muraile