Managing His Aspirations: The Labour and Republican Politics of Paddy Devlin

Abstract

This article explores the diverging Labour and republican politics of Paddy Devlin. It argues Devlin downplays his Irish republican past, especially in his autobiography, in favour of a Labour profile he retrospectively regards as preferable. It assesses different phases of his career, from the Northern Ireland Labour Party and the Social Democratic and Labour Party, to the time of the 1981 hunger strikes and pronouncements beyond. The article contends that Devlin's militant background and proximity to conflict, particularly during the Troubles, moulds a protean and complex realpolitik persona, often accommodating both unionism and militant republicanism. Devlin's individualist credo is compared with other figures throughout the political spectrum. While this piece demonstrates how and why Devlin steers clear of re-embracing physical force methods, it nonetheless highlights the way it is impossible to ignore the republican impulse of his upbringing and how Devlin's political journey is frequently, though not always, determined by emotional and personal ties.