Northern Ireland

What’s behind the hard border debate in Ireland?

Tomáš Tengely-Evans unpacks the arguments around the “backstop” agreement and what it means for ordinary people

The first Dail—when Ireland defied Westminster

The story of the first Dail shows it’s possible to break the rule of Westminster, writes Simon Basketter

Massacre in Ballymurphy at the hands of the British state

After decades of campaigning a new inquest into the killings has begun. Simon Basketter says British attempts to crush Catholic resistance in Northern Ireland lay behind the massacre

October 1968 - when Derry dared to revolt against British imperialism

Fifty years ago this week an attack on a Derry civil rights march led to one of the biggest revolts against British rule in Northern Ireland. Simon Basketter tells the story

Remembering Derry 1968 - ‘This is not a riot. It is an outburst of rage’

The week after the Derry events Socialist Worker ran a front page story by Eamonn McCann. We reproduce an abridged version below

Riots erupt around annual festival of anti-Catholic bonfire celebrations

Rioting broke out around the annual expression of sectarianism in Northern Ireland.

Womens’ marches show the mood to relax abortion laws in Northern Ireland

11 June 2018
Pressure is growing on politicians for reform of draconian abortion law in Northern Ireland, reports Sarah Bates

Protests outside parliament after MPs debate abortion law

05 June 2018
Activists protested outside parliament on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland—how Britain rules a last outpost of empire

04 June 2018
Why isn’t Northern Ireland in Ireland?

Irish repeal movement’s historic win deals blow to bigotry

29 May 2018
Irish voters delivered a landslide two to one vote to repeal the 8th Amendment and liberalise abortion laws last Saturday.

Victory for abortion rights in Ireland

26 May 2018
The result was conclusive. Over 66 percent voted Yes to repeal the anti-abortion clause in the constitution.

Getting the bigots on the back foot in Ireland

22 May 2018
Sinead is one of tens of thousands of women who have been forced to leave Ireland to access abortion services.

There’s more to the Irish language row than racism

20 February 2018
A row over the Irish language has shone a light on the conflict that lies at the heart of Stormont

Unbiased judge rules he is unbiased in Loughinisland collusion case

30 January 2018
Relatives of those killed in the Loughinisland massacre have welcomed a judge’s decision to voluntarily step aside from a case challenging a watchdog finding that police colluded with the killers

The murder of Sean McParland—Loyalist death squads were run by the British state

16 December 2017
Sean McParland's killer was working as a paid Special Branch agent when he pulled the trigger.

Britain out of Ireland, fight to shape Brexit

05 December 2017
The leaders of the bigoted Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) relished their power over Theresa May’s government this week.

For a Brexit from Ireland

28 November 2017
Jeremy Warner, an associate editor of the Daily Telegraph no less, wrote this week, “Ireland has poisoned UK politics and brought down governments for centuries.”

New documentary shows cover-up behind Ulster Volunteer Force killings

04 November 2017
Six Catholic men were murdered in a rural Northern Ireland pub in 1994. Who was responsible?

Abortion is a right

24 October 2017
Poorer women in Northern Ireland who come to England to have an abortion will now be able to claim money for travel and accommodation.

An inspiration and a warning from Belfast

16 October 2017
United struggle can help beat sectarianism—but alone it isn’t enough. That’s the message of an important new book about the 1932 Outdoor Relief Riots in Belfast, writes Colm Bryce