The Week at Work

Final part of a three week session on Irish radical and working class history, that was held in the Spark in Phibsboro in April. The main theme today is the “social question” and what that meant in terms of Irish radicalism in the 19th century. It brings up writers such as Agnes Henry, Anna Doyle Wheeler, Bronterre O’Brien, William Sharman Crawford, and Eleanor Marx. More details and links to work...

Third of four recordings made in the Spark, Phibsboro, in April 2025, dealing with Irish radical and working class history. Topics in this episode include Repeal and Chartism, Daniel O'Connell as a 19th century neoliberal, and working class resistance to the extractive, colonial, mode of production.

Second of three workshops held in the Spark, Phibsborough. Recorded on 10 April 2025 and continues the themes of the previous week, looking at historical materialism. Topics include Engels, Mao, Peadar O'Donnell, Brian O'Neill, The Ripening of Time Collective, and Mahdi Amel and the pitfalls of underdevelopment/world systems theory when applied to Ireland.

Recording of the first of three workshops on Irish radical history, held in The Spark, Phibsborough, 3 April 2025. The series will focus in on Marxism and history, Irish class consciousness and class struggle, and pioneer Irish socialists of the 19th century. Slides from the workshop available here - https://conor-mccabe.com/2025/04/04/irish-radical-history-no-1/

This week Dave and Conor discuss the European Court of Justice ruling that Ireland is owed €13.8bn in taxes due to illegal state aid. What are the implications for Ireland, and how does this illustrate the nature of the Irish comprodor economic system? If you want to support us, go to www.leftbloc.ie or www.patreon.com/leftbloc And don't forget to book your ticket for Scoil Cois Claí: https://...

This week on the podcast, Clare and Michelle are joined by Stiofán O Nualláin to discuss Northern Ireland and British Elections Imperialist Labour Party Gaza Genocide Garda Violence Pilot Strikes Mass evictions from Direct Provision Centres & Much More!

This week Dave and Conor take a look at the EU and local elections where they review the performance of the parties, the media campaign and the strategies of the left. They also discuss, where to next... where will "left unity" come from?

On this weeks show, Dave, Conor and Michelle discuss: The Housing Commission Report The recognition of Palestine The Dublin 8 Artwork Project The EU Elections The real cost of a United Ireland

This week Dave and Clare talk to Conor Reddy about the ongoing Trinity College Dublin encampment and protests against complicity with Israel’s genocide in Palestine. Conor is a member of the Postgraduate Workers' Organisation of Ireland and a People Before Profit candidate in the upcoming local elections. Also discussed: Threats from Amazon Ireland if we don’t allow more data centres Shortages...

This Week Clare and Michelle discuss Stardust Verdict Bloody Sunday Palestine - West Bank violence increasing - - Protests against weapons through Shannon for Israel. - Columbia students encampment - Banning of people speaking languages at protests - Google workers sacked for protesting Googles role in apartheid. - Communication Workers Union motion on An Post members not handling Israeli mail. -...

In this special episode Councillor Dean Mulligan hosts a public discussion with Clare Daly MEP and Palestinian activist Aseel Marabeh. The event took place on 3rd April in Swords. Dean introduces the event explaining the resistance at local council level to pro-Palestinian initiatives, while Clare Daly explains what is happening in the EU. Aseel gives a horrific breakdown of what is facing Palesti...

This week, Dave, Michelle and Stiofán Ó Nualláin discuss: Jeffery Donaldson Bertie Ahern Easter rising commemorations Dublin - a failing capitalist experiment? The Shannon 3 protest US Military use of airport Stripsearching and Special branch. Israel embassy trade threat BDS actions in the workplace Palestinian banking Defunding RTE The James Connolly Festival (www.jamesconnollyfestival.com) The R...

This week Dave, Clare and Conor discuss: A workers' rights Taoiseach All hail our new overlord Gannon gets salty with Pepper Unite victory in the Supreme Court Calls for suspension of EU Trade Agreements with Israel Genocide Joe and the continued attacks on Palestinians And much more...

This week Michelle and Dave discuss: Palestine & the ongoing genocide Industrial Relations Act 1990 and Boycotting goods Sally Rooney:  ‘good friend’ in the White House. “the situation in the middle east” Two state solution Mary Robinson on RTE NI open for businesss SWSW festival Criminalising peaceful protesting Investor “activists” 94% of Forsa members voted yes to pay deal. 19 unions with p...

This week Michelle and Conor discuss the care referendum result and the campaigns run by the three main left political parties: Sinn Féin, People before Profit, and the Social Democrats.

This week Aubrey and Conor look at Naomi Klein's new book on the rise of the far-right. Doppelganger, and discuss its relevance to what's happening in Ireland today.

161. This week Clare and Michelle talk about Palestine events, OPW block IPSC event, Seanad motion on Palestine, increased militrisation, investment in illegal companies, policing of Palestine protests, facial recognitiion technology, RTB report, Owen Keegan in RTB, Joan Collins bill Gaza Genocide Garda protester removal Housing Planning Developments Care referendum Opinion Polls & More!

This week Dave and Conor look at the strikes at Amazon's warehouse in Coventry, an upcoming trade union bill sponsored by Joan Collins TD, and Sinn Féin's recent dip in the polls.

This week David Gibney is joined by Eoghan Fox, President of the Galway Council of Trade Unions to discuss: The International Court of Justice ruling on Israel's Genocide Sinn Fein visiting Genocide Joe for Paddys Day New Public Sector Pay Deal Ryanair snap up gaffs in Dublin Guantanamo Bay and the inspiring former inmates trying to close it (book available here - https://www.connollybooks.org...

This week, Clare and Stevie discuss the Genocide of Gaza, the South African case in the ICJ, the Irish Government response and the power of collective action. We discuss the upcoming local elections and referendum and the toxic discourse being driven by far right agitators, alongside discussions on housing, the EU, the DUP and Nothern Ireland politics and more!

This week Conor and Dave look at C. Desmond Greaves' biography of James Connolly, in particular the poetic license and myth-making that Greaves indulged in when filling in the gaps in Connolly's early days. It focuses on the account Greaves gave of Connolly's army career, and the issues with the sources used and story told. This episode was recorded in the Garden of Remembrance one Fri...

This week Conor McCabe and Aubrey Robinson discuss a recent paper by Pierce Daly (UCD) which mapped the location and intensity of institutional/corporate investment in the Dublin rental market. It is a rare example of detailed empirical analysis on the issue and we felt it deserved a discussion and analysis in itself. Link to the paper is below, along with one by Daniela Gabor and Sebastian Kohl w...

This week, guest Saoirse McHugh and Conor McCabe discuss the dynamics of class and capitalism in so-called 'rural' Ireland; the feebleness of the institutional Irish left (political parties, trade unions, research bodies) in dealing with these dynamics; and the rising threat of the far-right as it elbows its way into the vacuum. Recorded during a climate action march in Dublin on 9 Decembe...

This week Glenn and Michelle discuss: Truce in Palestine ended, Israeli bombardment restarted Role of mainstream media Division in our communities - rise of hate and the question of 'resources' Mary Lou tweet Rents reaching new records The Ditch investigations Data centres and COP Successes in the BDS campaign

This week Dave, Clare and Michelle discuss: The Parnell Square knife attack Dublin violence & classism Policing - water cannons, Facial recognition technology ICTU rally Palestine so-called 4 day pause in firing Surge in munition exemptions undermining our neutrality Attempts to scrapping the triple lock AIB applying banking sanctions? Homeless numbers record broken again AirBnb profits Mayo c...