“Social Sinn Féin and Hard Labour”: the journalism of W.P. Ryan and Jim Larkin 1907–14

Abstract

The history of Irish journalism continues to develop, particularly studies of the key journalists associated with the Gaelic Revival. The present article contributes to this historiography by closely analysing the political and cultural nationalism of two of the era's newspaper editors, W.P. Ryan and Jim Larkin. Drawing on evidence found in editorials from the Irish Peasant (1906–10) and the Irish Worker (1911–14) respectively, it is argued that both writers adhered to a form of progressive republicanism. Moreover, while both editors advocated the Revivalist goal of national reconstruction, they were also vocal and articulate critics of the more conservative elements of this movement as well as Irish nationalism more generally. The article will also examine the ideological differences which existed between Larkin and Ryan themselves. In particular it will be shown how Larkin's labour republicanism was focused on the necessity for open class conflict while Ryan viewed a transition to socialism occurring in Ireland through cross-class co-operation.