IRSP election rally in Derry April 19, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.trackback
Many thanks to the person who forwarded these links.
This is taken from an IRSP election rally in Derry held on the 13th of April. Chaired by IRSP founding member Terry Robson it features Derry IRSP candidates. The third part is particularly interesting for the comments of a close friend of Seamus Costello, Tommy McCourt, on Costello’s attitude to elections.
As was put to me, it’s of particular interest in regards to their foray back into electoralism.
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Very interesting to hear from both Robson and McCourt, who were both founding members of the IRSP. I think the points raised about Costello’s attitude towards elections are great and something which would be good to see today. It is one thing posing awkward questions, it is another thing entirely employing guerilla tactics to elected positions in the way Costello advocated. I remember reading what Tony Gregory wrote about Costello on his death, quoting another cllr in Wicklow that ‘every resolution put forward by Mr. Costello is designed to stir up trouble’.
Glad to see the irps back involved in electoralism as I do see the issue of national sovereignty as one that needs to be raised, whether in relation to partition or the EU. Will be interesting to see how the IRSP does, they are fighting in 5 wards I believe.
Good take.
There’s another angle on the Costello approach, often the demands made for the working class are intrinsically of their nature designed to stir up trouble in a society like our own.
In a way he wouldn’t have been doing his job if there wasn’t at least an element of that in them.
Exactly WBS.
I remember speaking to a comrade of Seamus about the kind of actions he took as a councillor. The point you raise about working class demands is on the money. For example, Costello once filled the council chamber during a meeting with local homeless people and those on the local waiting list before declaring that the meeting would not be adjourning until they all had homes to go to. A pretty effective way of demonstrating the limitations of the institutions under the current system to cater for the needs of people, using the system to expose itself in a way.
Excellent way of bringing it all home.