Author Archives: lipstick socialist

Unknown's avatar

About lipstick socialist

I am an activist and writer. My interests include women, class, culture and history. From an Irish in Britain background I am a republican and socialist. All my life I have been involved in community and trade union politics and I believe it is only through grass roots politics that we will get a better society. This is reflected in my writing, in my book Northern ReSisters Conversations with Radical Women and my involvement in the Mary Quaile Club. .If you want to contact me please use my gmail which is lipsticksocialist636

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on April 22, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch…Caramel, (2007) set in Beirut in a beauty salon, this film concentrates on women’s lives, rather than the politics of the Middle East. In beauty salons across the world women gather together to chat, exchange secrets and seek support from … Continue reading →

Posted in films, interesting blog, labour history, Manchester, Middle East, music, poetry, women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Maeve Kelly: Irishwoman, Feminist,Writer, Activist

Posted on April 19, 2012 by lipstick socialist

As a feminist and campaigner in the Irish community in Britain in the 1980s and 90s, it was great discovering the novels of Maeve Kelly. There were (and maybe still are) many depressing stereotypes about the lives of Irish women … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Catholicism, Ireland, Irish second generation, NHS, novels, women | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on April 15, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch…..Las Acacias (2011 Argentina) A lorry driver, a road journey from Paraguay to Buenos Aires and a woman with a child who joins him on the trip. There is little script and the baby plays a big role in bringing … Continue reading →

Posted in art exhibition, book review, films, music, novels, poetry, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

And down with all kings but king ludd!

Posted on April 11, 2012 by lipstick socialist

“Riots in our city streets, the worst economic crisis for decades, a long war fought abroad with no sign of progress. Sounds familiar? Welcome to England 1812”.  Mikron Theatre’s latest  production  “Can You keep a Secret?; the rise and fall … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, drama, education, labour history, trade unions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on April 8, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Le Havre a film by Aki Kaurismaki. Set in Le Havre in 2012, the film is about a man who shines shoes for a living and helps save a refugee African boy from the French police. It’s more than … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Communism, drama, films, human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, music, North of Ireland, Socialism, women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My interview with Ken Loach; remembering the dreamers and the builders…….

Posted on April 5, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Ken Loach at the Working Class Movement Library, March 2012 “This is my truth, tell me yours”, Nye Bevan Last week I met up with Ken Loach at the Working Class Movement Library in Salford, where he was researching and … Continue reading →

Posted in films, Ken Loach, labour history, NHS, trade unions, TV drama | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on April 1, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch….35 Shots of Rum (DVD), a film  made by one of my favourite directors, Frenchwoman Claire Denis. It’s about  a side of Paris that most tourists (and maybe many Parisians) never notice; African workers. The main character is an African … Continue reading →

Posted in art exhibition, book review, films, Ireland, music, novels, Socialist Feminism, women | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trade Unions; the next generation….

Posted on March 29, 2012 by lipstick socialist

In the past 18 months there has been a surge in political activity by young people in the Occupy Movement, in student protests against tuition fees and withdrawal of EMA and in anti-workfare campaigns. At the same time, but less … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, Manchester, NHS, trade unions, women, young people | Tagged | Leave a comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on March 25, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Happy People (2010) A year in the Taiga by Dmitry Vasyukov. Siberia extends from the Urals to the Pacific and is one and a half times the size of the USA. 38 million people live in this area, but … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, Communism, education, films, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, music, Socialism, trade unions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dirty Old Town Fights Back!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by lipstick socialist

 Salford people marching from Bexley Square on 30 November 2011 The last time the Tories were in power they had a clear plan, based on what we now call a neo-liberal agenda. This involved the destruction of much of manufacturing, … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, Salford, trade unions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment