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Saoradh | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 24 September 2016 |
| Political orientation | Irish republicanism Revolutionary socialism Anti-imperialism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| Website | |
| https://saoradh.irish/ | |
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Saoradh (Irish for "Liberation") is a revolutionary socialist and Irish republican political party organised throughout Ireland. It was founded on 24 September 2016 by republican activists from several tendencies, including former members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, Republican Sinn Féin and the Irish Republican Socialist Party.[1][2]
Saoradh seeks the establishment of a 32-county socialist republic, free from British rule and European Union interference.[3] It regards the partition of Ireland as a product of British imperialism and argues that Irish labour and natural resources remain subordinated to international capital. The party rejects the political institutions created under partition, arguing that an assembly cannot legitimately represent Ireland unless elected by the people of the entire island.[4]
The party identifies Wolfe Tone, James Connolly, Liam Mellows, Seamus Costello and Bobby Sands as political inspirations and describes the struggle for Irish national liberation and socialism as the "Unfinished Revolution".[5] Saoradh also identifies itself with anti-fascism, anti-racism and anti-colonialism, regarding attempts by the far-right to appropriate Irish republican imagery as contrary to the historic struggle for national liberation.[6]
Saoradh is abstentionist and rejects participation in Dáil Éireann and the Northern Ireland Assembly. It has been particularly critical of Sinn Féin for accepting the institutions created by the Good Friday Agreement and participating in the administration of the partitioned state.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland and several media organizations have alleged that Saoradh is the political wing or "political voice" of the New IRA. Saoradh denies any organizational relationship with the New IRA or other armed organizations. New IRA prisoners have, however, publicly expressed support for Saoradh, and a number of individuals associated with the party have also been accused by British authorities of involvement with the organization.[7]
Ideology[edit | edit source]
Saoradh combines revolutionary Irish republicanism with socialism and anti-imperialism. The party argues that national liberation cannot be separated from social liberation and that an independent capitalist Ireland would not constitute the completion of the Irish revolution. It calls for the ownership of Ireland's wealth and wealth-producing mechanisms by the Irish people and opposes the domination of the country by British and international capital.[8]
Saoradh rejects reformism, arguing that British imperialism and capitalist exploitation cannot be defeated through the institutions established to administer the existing political order. At its 2022 Ard Fheis, the party reaffirmed its revolutionary socialist orientation and warned against becoming trapped in a "reformist cul de sac".[9]
The party is opposed to the European Union, which it regards as an imperialist institution. It supported Britain's withdrawal from the EU while rejecting British unionism, arguing that Brexit represented a defeat for the political and business establishment of Britain, Ireland and Europe.[10]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "About Us". Saoradh.
- ↑ Connla Young (2016-09-26). "New 'revolutionary' republican party Saoradh launched" The Irish News.
- ↑ "Saoradh - The Irish Revolutionary Republican Socialist Party". Saoradh.
- ↑ "About Us". Saoradh.
- ↑ "About Us". Saoradh.
- ↑ "Smash The Fash!" (2025-11-21). Saoradh.
- ↑ Marisa McGlinchey (2021-07-22). "'While there's British interference, there's going to be action': why a hardcore of dissident Irish republicans are not giving up" The Guardian.
- ↑ "About Us". Saoradh.
- ↑ "Saoradh Ard Fheis Report" (2022-11-16). Saoradh.
- ↑ Dieter Reinisch (2019-11-15). "Opinion: I went to the Saoradh party conference to see where radical republicanism is going" TheJournal.ie.