Roddy Connolly
Encyclopedia
Roderick James Connolly (11 February 1901 – 16 December 1980) was a socialist politician
in Ireland
.
The son of Irish socialist James Connolly
and Lillie Connolly
, he was involved in the Easter Rising in 1916, where he served in the GPO
under his father. He joined the Socialist Party of Ireland in 1917. He traveled to Russia on several occasions between 1920–21 and formed a close association with Lenin and was hugely influenced by the Soviet leader. He was a delegate to the Second Congress of the Communist International. He helped form and became President of the first Communist Party of Ireland
(CPI) in October 1921. He was editor of CPI newspaper, The Workers' Republic. He opposed the Treaty of December 1921
between the IRA
and the British state and fought in the Civil War
on the side of the republican forces. The CPI was the first Irish political party to oppose the Treaty and urged the IRA to adopt socialist policies to defeat the new Free State
government. The CPI was dissolved in 1924 by the Comintern
but in 1926, Connolly helped set up a second Marxist
party, the Workers Party of Ireland. Connolly was the party leader and editor of its journal, The Hammer and Plough. This party too was dissolved in 1927.
Connolly joined the Irish Labour Party in 1928 and in 1934 participated in the last socialist initiative of Inter-War Ireland, the Irish Republican Congress
. He was imprisoned twice in 1935. In 1943, Connolly was elected to the Dáil
as a Labour Party Teachta Dála
(TD) for Louth
. He lost his seat in 1944, but was re-elected in 1948, before losing once more in 1951. Connolly was also Financial Secretary of the party between 1941-49.
Connolly entered something of a semi-retirement between the mid-1950s to mid-1960s, but in the late 1960s, he began a comeback. He was elected as party chairman in 1971 and held this position until 1978. Connolly also sat in the Irish Senate
between 1975–77 on the Cultural and Educational Panel. He was a strong supporter of the Labour/Fine Gael
coalition government that was in power between 1973–77. Connolly died in St Michael's hospital, Dún Laoghaire
, in December 1980. He had both pneumonia and stomach cancer. Connolly is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
, Dublin.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
The son of Irish socialist James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
and Lillie Connolly
Lillie Connolly
Lillie Connolly née Reynolds, was born in County Wicklow, a Protestant. She met James Connolly while the latter was serving in the British Army in Ireland. She was working as a domestic servant in Dublin. They were engaged in 1888 and the following years Connolly discharged himself from the British...
, he was involved in the Easter Rising in 1916, where he served in the GPO
General Post Office (Dublin)
The General Post Office ' in Dublin is the headquarters of the Irish postal service, An Post, and Dublin's principal post office...
under his father. He joined the Socialist Party of Ireland in 1917. He traveled to Russia on several occasions between 1920–21 and formed a close association with Lenin and was hugely influenced by the Soviet leader. He was a delegate to the Second Congress of the Communist International. He helped form and became President of the first Communist Party of Ireland
Communist Party of Ireland
The Communist Party of Ireland is a small all-Ireland Marxist party, founded in 1933. An earlier party, the Socialist Party of Ireland, was renamed the Communist Party of Ireland in 1921 on its affiliation to the Communist International but was dissolved in 1924. The present-day CPI was founded in...
(CPI) in October 1921. He was editor of CPI newspaper, The Workers' Republic. He opposed the Treaty of December 1921
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
between the IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
and the British state and fought in the Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
on the side of the republican forces. The CPI was the first Irish political party to oppose the Treaty and urged the IRA to adopt socialist policies to defeat the new Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
government. The CPI was dissolved in 1924 by the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
but in 1926, Connolly helped set up a second Marxist
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
party, the Workers Party of Ireland. Connolly was the party leader and editor of its journal, The Hammer and Plough. This party too was dissolved in 1927.
Connolly joined the Irish Labour Party in 1928 and in 1934 participated in the last socialist initiative of Inter-War Ireland, the Irish Republican Congress
Republican Congress
The Republican Congress was an Irish republican political organisation founded in 1934, when left-wing republicans left the Irish Republican Army. The Congress was led by such IRA veterans as Peadar O'Donnell, Frank Ryan and George Gilmore. It was a socialist organisation and was dedicated to a...
. He was imprisoned twice in 1935. In 1943, Connolly was elected to the Dáil
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
as a Labour Party Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for Louth
Louth (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Louth is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
. He lost his seat in 1944, but was re-elected in 1948, before losing once more in 1951. Connolly was also Financial Secretary of the party between 1941-49.
Connolly entered something of a semi-retirement between the mid-1950s to mid-1960s, but in the late 1960s, he began a comeback. He was elected as party chairman in 1971 and held this position until 1978. Connolly also sat in the Irish Senate
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
between 1975–77 on the Cultural and Educational Panel. He was a strong supporter of the Labour/Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
coalition government that was in power between 1973–77. Connolly died in St Michael's hospital, Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
, in December 1980. He had both pneumonia and stomach cancer. Connolly is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
, Dublin.