Fragments of Victory: The Contemporary Irish Left

by David Landy (editor), Oisín Gilmore (editor)

There is much to learn from modern left-wing activism in Ireland. A rich tapestry of movements, including republicans, social democrats, trade unions, Trotskyists and anarchists, they have been battling neoliberalism and austerity with vigour, frustration, success and failure.

Fragments of Victory charts these political currents, from the difficult early years of anti-austerity campaigning, to the successful mass campaign to end water charges and prevent water privatisation, and the seismic victory that was 'Repeal' - the campaign for women’s reproductive rights. Looking to the present, the campaign around the brutal housing crisis is also addressed.

Each chapter covers a different campaign or group, written by leading activists who provide insiders' perspectives on how history was made, and share valuable insights that can be applied to international movements everywhere.

Genres: Ireland

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 2025

Reviews

[Pádraig Mac Oscair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really important survey of several major areas of Irish political activism which manages to achieve a lot in a very short space in terms of introducing several of the key issues that have defined the Irish left , and providing a much needed reflection on how these movements managed to achieve a lot from a very low starting place. I grew up in Donegal during the Celtic Tiger, and even something like the anti Iraq War marches or Shell To Sea seemed impossibly radical. The idea that there would be a pro-Gaza demonstration in Letterkenny every week in the aftermath of successful Marriage Equality, water charges and Repeal campaigns would have seemed the stuff of science fiction.

Nevertheless, austerity has ravaged society and the left has (outside the housing movement and arguably PBP) struggled to build genuinely national and durable institutions. The essays here don't shy away from that problem or fail to consider the implications of this. Essential reading for anyone trying to understand how the crash changed Ireland, in some ways for the better.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some quotes I wanted to share from this book:

“This form of partial (non-) commitment proved to be the defining nature of Sinn Féin’s approach to most political struggles of the time.” (p. 37)

“This sorry story illustrates a central feature of the Irish left in this period - its organisational disunity. It’s perhaps surprising that no lasting political organisations were born in this time of political turmoil beyond fringe, temporary initiatives.” (p. 38)

“If we were to take any initial lesson from all of this, it is that nothing is predetermined. Nobody in Ireland in 2007 would have imagined that Ireland was going to see these movements or see the development of one of the strongest electoral lefts in western Europe.” (p. 177)

Really loved the introduction chapter, the first chapter on austerity, and the chapter on water rights. Every discussion of the financial crisis hooked me. The analysis of the Labour Party was really interesting to me. But I didn’t love how the Republicanism chapter focused mostly on Éirígí.

[James Moran]

Vg

[Matthew O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book about the contemporary Irish left. it will certainly be considered a classic in years to come. I particularly enjoyed the section about the trot movement and how they care more about taking over a movement, E.g with ROSA, to get votes from it than caring about the actual movement itself.