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Alan MacSimoin December 5, 2018

Posted by WorldbyStorm in Uncategorized.
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Joe Mooney notes the passing of Alan MacSimoin here. It’s genuinely unbelievable.

Alan has been a fixture on the Irish further left for many many years, a person who was passionate, knowledgeable, extremely kind and thoughtful (this site owes him so much in terms of his willingness to donate documents to the Archive, time and his knowledge across a fair few cuppas), a wry, sometimes sceptical but never disillusioned take on Irish left politics and someone who had held true to his libertarian communist beliefs from the days in OSF, on to the WSM and thereafter.

The last time I saw him was at the series of East Wall History Group talks where he was his usual exuberant self. Our condolences to Mary and his family.

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1. Colm B - December 5, 2018

What sad news!

I worked with him in anti-bin tax campaign and various other campaigns in the 00s where ISN and WSM worked together. He was a serious fighter who didn’t take himself too seriously, dry humour combined with commitment. His loyalty was never to an organisation but to the interests of his class.

My condolences to Mary, his family and friends.

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2. Alibaba - December 5, 2018

Alan is gone from us; but his example, his achievements, his dedication to struggle and his delightfully wicked sense of humour will always be in our memory.

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Terry - December 6, 2018

I remember Alan as very welcoming when I was a youthful anarchist in the 1990s, and as an important source of experience of/reflection on the years of more widespread political mobilisation in the 1970s and early 1980s, in what was then (the 1990s) a fairly quiescent period.

Very sad news!

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WorldbyStorm - December 6, 2018

That point about his sense of humour is so true.

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3. Redzer - December 6, 2018

I can’t believe it. Alan did so much as a founding member of Choice Ireland, guiding young inexperienced activists and providing us with a vital link to past efforts. His kindness, decency and humour will be much missed. He will be profoundly mourned by a lot of people on the Left, in all parties and none.

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4. lcox - December 6, 2018

Really sorry to see this.

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5. Paddy Healy - December 6, 2018

So sad. Condolences to Mary. Alan was a wonderful advocate and organiser for workers, for the poor, for women’s rights and for all the disadvantaged. WE participated together in so many rebellious movements since the mid sixties. I first met Alan, when as a 12? year old schoolboy he approached me at the GPO as I was selling the Young Socialist!! Slán Alan

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6. Alan MacSimoin (1957-2018) – Dublin Historian and Political Activist | Come Here To Me! - December 6, 2018

[…] first became interested in politics in the late 1960s as a young teenager in Dublin. Paddy Healy recalled a very youthful Alan approaching him outside the GPO to buy a copy of the Young Socialist […]

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7. Alan MacSimoin (1957-2018) – #Dublin Historian and Political Activist – Enough is Enough! - December 7, 2018

[…] first became interested in politics in the late 1960s as a young teenager in Dublin. Paddy Healy recalled a very youthful Alan approaching him outside the GPO to buy a copy of the Young Socialist […]

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