Limerick Soviet not being taught in schools is regrettable, says author

THE revolutionary spirit of the Limerick Soviet can provide a blueprint for everyday struggles in 2019.

That was the feeling at the launch of a new book focusing on murder victim Robert Byrne, and the Limerick Soviet by local Sinn Fein councillor Séighin Ó Ceallaigh.

His party colleague Maurice Quinlivan was on hand to formally launch his 105-page reprisal of the key role Byrne played, which was born out of a project at the University of Limerick.

It was the death of the IRA hunger striker which sparked the Limerick Soviet, and Cllr Ó Ceallaigh has studied this, and other causes in depth, as part of his book.

On Sunday last, following a commemoration at Byrne's grave in Mount St Lawrence, the book was launched at the Mechanic’s Institute.

The book has been a labour of love for the City East councillor, although he acknowledged there have been some “late nights” to get the self-published title out on time.

”The first time I came across the Soviet was in school, although not in any textbooks. It was actually part of a Leaving Cert project. We had a free choice of what to pick. I looked at the Tan War in Limerick and came across this man.”

Cllr Ó Ceallaigh says he regrets the fact the Soviet is not being taught in Limerick secondary schools, given the year that is in it.

Dublin TD Eoin Ó Broin was present, and he said the spirit of the Soviet strikers in 1919 could be applied to workers today.

“Talk to working people, working long hours for poor wages due to the rising cost of living, not being able to get by at the end of the month. We need to capture some of the Soviet spirit, of that revolutionary generation, modernise it and update it for today.”