Tag Archives: Cuba

Margaret Mullarkey of Bolton Irish in Britain Representation Group; her life seen through the eyes of her children.

Posted on January 17, 2024 by lipstick socialist

  In the history of the Irish in Britain Representation Group many women were active; but,  as in other organisations,  their role has been often  marginalised and underestimated. One of those women was  Margaret Mullarkey of Bolton IBRG. Sadly, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholicism, education, human rights, Lorenza Mazzetti, novels, political women, Uncategorized, women, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My review of “Out of the Window” by Madeline Linford

Posted on October 31, 2023 by lipstick socialist

Madeline Linford (1895-1975) was born and brought up in Manchester until she was sent to a boarding school in Surrey. At the age of 18 she started working in the advertising department of the Manchester Guardian where promotion led to … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Catholicism, Communism, drama, education, films, human rights, Lorenza Mazzetti, novels, political women, Uncategorized, women, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My review of “The Sky is Falling” by Lorenza Mazzetti

Posted on September 24, 2023 by lipstick socialist

Lorenza Mazzetti (1927-2020) was a  writer, filmmaker,  and theatre puppeteer who wrote this, her first novel,  in 1962, published as II Cielo cade. It was only published in this country in 2022. “The Sky is Falling” is a fictionalised account … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Catholicism, Communism, drama, education, films, human rights, Lorenza Mazzetti, novels, political women, Uncategorized, women, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My review of “Rewriting the Troubles War and Propaganda Ireland and Algeria” Patrick Anderson

Posted on August 25, 2023 by lipstick socialist

The formation of the Irish in Britain Representation Group, a national grassroots-based community organisation in the 1980s, challenged the  traditional Irish organisation  – the Federation of Irish Societies  – and its toadying to the Irish Government over the relationship between … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Communism, human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, North of Ireland, Uncategorized, working class history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My review of “Mater 2-10” by Hwang Sok-yong. Translated by Kim-Russell & Youngjae Josephine Bae

Posted on July 27, 2023 by lipstick socialist

How many novels have been written about Korea, communism, and trade unions? Few, if any.  This award-winning novel by HSY is a revelation to many of us in the west who, like me, might be trade unionists, have worked  alongside … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, Communism, human rights, labour history, Socialism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kath Grant; Journalist and Trade Unionist

Posted on May 9, 2023 by lipstick socialist

Kath is from a Lancashire radical working-class tradition. Born in Rochdale in 1950,  she spent her first five  years living with her parents and grandfather in “The Mount”,  the Irish area in the centre of the town. Her grandparents were … Continue reading →

Posted in human rights, labour history, Manchester, Middle East, North of Ireland, Northern ReSisters Conversations with Radical Women, political women, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My review of “A Very British Conspiracy The Shrewsbury 24 and the Campaign for Justice” by Eileen Turnbull

Posted on January 3, 2023 by lipstick socialist

In 2023 many trade unions are taking strike action due to a cost-of-living crisis amongst working people, while  the  Tory government’s response  is to  threaten  further  anti-strike  legislation. A Very British Conspiracy is a reminder of the lengths a Tory … Continue reading →

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Patti Mayor: Preston artist and suffragette

Posted on December 15, 2022 by lipstick socialist

In the little gem of an art gallery in Oldham I came across the work of artist and activist Patti Mayor. Born in Preston on 1 May 1872 as Martha Ann Mayor, she was known as Patti, one of five … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Communism, human rights, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Manchester Irish in Britain Representation Group and Grass Roots Books Radical Bookshop (and later Frontline Books)

Posted on November 20, 2022 by lipstick socialist

In 1981 a new wave of Irish activists became involved in not just the campaign for a united Ireland but also in campaigning for the  civil rights and equality for the Irish in Britain: the Irish in Britain Representation Group … Continue reading →

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My review of “Our Woman in Havana Reporting Castro’s Cuba” Sarah Rainsford

Posted on January 30, 2019 by lipstick socialist

  Sarah Rainsford was the BBC’s correspondent in Cuba from 2011-14. Known as “Our woman in Havana”  it  feels  like  a throwback to a time when the UK was a world power that needed  to send out foreign correspondents like … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Communism, human rights, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments