Category Archives: education

IBRG Archive at the WCML; N.E.Lancs IBRG and Irish Women in Britain.

Posted on February 5, 2020 by lipstick socialist

IBRG was an organisation that reflected the history of the Irish in this country but one that was not frightened off linking up the present with the past – unlike many other Irish organisations in the era of 1981-2003. Branches  … Continue reading →

Posted in education, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, North of Ireland, political women, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Margaret Mullarkey; working class, Boltonian, IBRG activist

Posted on January 19, 2020 by lipstick socialist

  In archiving the history of IBRG it is noticeable how many women were active as national officers as well as playing a more hidden role as the backbone of the organisation at a branch level. Margaret was one of … Continue reading →

Posted in education, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, North of Ireland, political women, Socialist Feminism, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , | 1 Comment

My review of “Betty Tebbs – a radical working class hero” by Mark Metcalf

Posted on November 25, 2019 by lipstick socialist

      Through my friendship with Eddie and Ruth Frow I have met many women like Betty who had been  activists in the CPGB and the trade union movement. We came from different generations – and had quite different … Continue reading →

Posted in Betty Tebbs, biography, book review, Communism, education, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

My review of the Keith Haring exhibition at Tate Liverpool

Posted on August 6, 2019 by lipstick socialist

KEITH Haring (1958–1990) was an American artist and  political activist. In this wonderful retrospective we really get to see the way in which he wanted to make art as accessible as possible to the majority of people. He once said: … Continue reading →

Posted in art exhibition, education, human rights, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My review of “The Metal Mountain” by John Healy

Posted on July 26, 2019 by lipstick socialist

IT  is 30 years since John Healy wrote his classic “Grass Arena”  his autobiography of growing up Irish in London. Published at a time when the Irish in Britain were going through a time of renaissance from politics in groups … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Catholicism, education, feminism, human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, North of Ireland, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why Manchester activists are taking to the rooftops in Oldham to stop arms sales to Israel

Posted on July 25, 2019 by lipstick socialist

  For Ade Mormech the political is personal . He, alongside other Manchester Palestine  Action  activists, recently  occupied the roof of Elbit’s Ferranti factory in Waterhead Oldham  for three days. “We think that arms companies like Elbit Ferranti should stop … Continue reading →

Posted in education, human rights, labour history, Palestine, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

My review of “Common Cause” by Kate Hunter

Posted on June 27, 2019 by lipstick socialist

  KATE Hunter, a working class writer and political activist, recognises the massive barriers facing any person   from her background who wants to write. At the age of  nine she won a  National Essay prize,  but there was no encouragement … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, Communism, education, feminism, labour history, Manchester, novels, political women, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My review of the exhibition of Flag of Covenience by David Dunnico

Posted on June 6, 2019 by lipstick socialist

    Flag of Convenience David Dunnico Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery   25 May-28 June 2019 Stockport.artgallery@stockport.gov.uk   THE Union Jack has never been just a flag. In this new exhibition Manchester documentary photographer David Dunnico takes us on a … Continue reading →

Posted in art exhibition, education, Ireland, North of Ireland, Uncategorized, working class history, young people | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

My review of “second world second sex” Kristen Ghodsee

Posted on April 20, 2019 by lipstick socialist

    In this new history book Kristen rescues an important episode in the history of women’s activism at the United Nations – the contribution of women from the state socialist countries in Eastern Europe (“the Second World” as they … Continue reading →

Posted in Betty Tebbs, book review, Communism, education, feminism, human rights, labour history, Manchester, Northern ReSisters Conversations with Radical Women, peace campaigns, political women, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

My review of “Trico A Victory to Remember” by Sally Groves and Vernon Merritt

Posted on April 2, 2019 by lipstick socialist

  Why is it some strikes, many of them defeats for the labour movement, are constantly being replayed  ie Miners Strike, Grunwicks and Ford Dagenham women but successful strikes such as Trico have been forgotten. One of the big problems … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, education, feminism, human rights, labour history, political women, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments