A Strikers’ ‘Soviet’ in Belfast? The Great Belfast Strike of 1919

Author: Olivier CoquelinThis is the abstract of an article published in Labour History Review (2022), 87, (3), 255-275. Read more. The Great Belfast Strike of January–February 1919, although hardly explored until now, was part of the movement to reduce the working week, which affected large British industrial centres in the aftermath of the First World War. Apart from its longevity (four weeks), this social dispute … Continue reading A Strikers’ ‘Soviet’ in Belfast? The Great Belfast Strike of 1919

Book reviews in Labour History Review Volume 87 (2022), Issue 3

The books listed below are reviewed in Labour History Review (2022), 87, (3), 323-337. Find out more. Claudia Jarzebowski reviews Mary Nejedly, The Industrious Child Worker: Child Labour and Childhood in Birmingham and the West Midlands, 1750–1900, Hatfield: University of Hertfordshire Press, 2021, pp. viii + 214, p/b, £16.99, ISBN 978 19122 60430 Janette Martin reviews Lyndsey Jenkins, Sisters and Sisterhood: The Kenney Family, Class, and Suffrage, 1890–1965, Oxford: Oxford … Continue reading Book reviews in Labour History Review Volume 87 (2022), Issue 3

Bread not profits: a story of celebration and regret

Bread Not Profits: Provincial Working-Class Politics During the Irish RevolutionFrancis Devine & Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh (eds), Dublin: Umiskin Press, May 2022, h/b €48.50, pb €40.00 (UK including postage) The latest collection from the estimable Umiskin [labour history] Press, of Dublin, is notable for carrying the story of Irish working class mobilisation beyond the metropolitan centres and into the regions of Ireland during the revolutionary period … Continue reading Bread not profits: a story of celebration and regret

Emmet O’Connor on Jim Larkin: sign up now for the John Halstead Memorial Lecture

Dr Emmet O’Connor is to deliver the Society for the Study of Labour History’s first annual John Halstead Memorial Lecture on the topic of Jim Larkin, the Irish socialist and trade union leader. The event takes place on Saturday 29 October at 2.30pm, and all are invited to join us for the online event. REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED AbstractHow British was Big Jim Larkin? How … Continue reading Emmet O’Connor on Jim Larkin: sign up now for the John Halstead Memorial Lecture

A fresh look for Irish labour history

Dr Mike Mecham introduces the new-look website of the Irish Labour History Society The Irish Labour History Society has rebuilt and relaunched its website, offering free access to biographies and articles on labour history, information on labour history resources, and a collection of book reviews published by the society’s journal Saothar in 2021. The website consists of seven categories: Society: information about the society, membership, … Continue reading A fresh look for Irish labour history

An Ownerless Corner of Earth: songs to lift the spirits

Mike Mecham introduces a double CD of songs by Francis Devine, a published Irish labour historian, poet, singer and songwriter from Howth, County Dublin. A former President, and now Honorary President, of the Irish Labour History Society and editor of its journal Saothar, Francis Devine remains actively involved in the labour movement An Ownerless Corner of Earth is the second offering from Howth based singer Francis Devine. His first … Continue reading An Ownerless Corner of Earth: songs to lift the spirits

Conference: working-class studies in Ireland

Ireland’s first working-class studies conference is to take place from 8-12 November. The first three days will be online via Zoom, followed by two face-to-face days at Liberty Hall, Dublin. The event includes 30 panels, two keynote Speakers and two live performance evenings. The Organising Committee is made up of working-class and feminist scholars currently researching and teaching in Ireland and overseas. The keynote speakers … Continue reading Conference: working-class studies in Ireland