Workers' Party mark 10th anniversary of death of Cathal Goulding

national | miscellaneous | news report

Monday January 05, 2009 15:39

by Workers' Party

wpi at indigo dot ie

24 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1.

(01) 8740716

Seminar held at Ashbourne, County Meath

Around 150 members of the Workers' Party attended a seminar over the weekend of 3rd January to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of veteran socialist republican Cathal Goulding who died on 26th December 1998.

Workers Party members at the Cathal Goulding seminar

Cathal Goulding was socialist republican all his life. He played an important role in reorganising the IRA in the 1940s and became Chief of Staff of the IRA in 1962. Cathal was born into a revolutionary family on the north side of Dublin. Both his father and grandfather were interned for their involvement in the 1916 Rising and his grandfather was involved in the Fenians. Cathal Goulding joined na Fianna Éireann in 1931 at the age of 8 years.

He was first arrested in 1940 and was interned without trial in the Curragh Internment Camp until 1945. After his release he, along with a small number of comrades, began rebuilding the IRA. Following the Felstead arms raid in England he was jailed from 1953 to 1959. In 1962 Cathal was elected Chief of Staff of the IRA and immediately began a process of bringing socialist politics into the IRA.

He was a life-long member of Sinn Féin and was instrumental in bringing about fundamental change in that organisation, culminating in the name change to Sinn Féin the Workers’ Party and the building of the Workers’ Party into a force in Irish politics.

He was a member of the Party’s Political and Central Executive Committees (Ard Comhairle) until he died. His life’s struggle to achieve a United, Socialist Irish Republic is an everlasting example to all true revolutionaries.

The weekend seminar was attended by members of all ages from every corner of Ireland and beyond.

Former party president and General Secretary Seán Garland who had worked closely with Cathal for over 40 years gave the opening address. Current President Michael Finnegan also gave an address ont he wider context of Cathal's work. Personal recollections were given by former Dublin West TD and Party President for over 25 years Tomás Mac Giolla during which he worked parallel to Cathal and by veteran republican and socialist Rita Whelan who along with her late husband Micheál had been friends of Cathal and the Goulding family from early in his life of activism. General Secretary John Lowry looked at how aspects of Cathal's life had echoed those of many other revolutionaries worldwide and of his legacy while Gerry Grainger, the party's International Secretary recalled how well known and widely respected Cathal was in the revolutionary movements across the globe.

Members also enjoyed a night of music, chat and reminiscences including a guest appearance from the legendary folk singer / songwriter Tommy Sands.

It is intended to produce a pamphlet with key aspects of the event shortly.