First we have Bob Goupillots introduction for speakers: 2.10 Bob Goupillot. I met Allan during the Great Miners Strike but really got to know him during the Poll Tax. Since then Allan and I were in an alphabet soup of organisations including The Red Republicans, the SSP, The Republican Communist Network, the Radical Independence Campaign…
Mary McGregor memorial for Allan Armstrong
Fields of Athenry At Allan’s funeral I was privileged to say a few words about how much Allan meant to so many of us and one thing I mentioned was Allan’s love of music, poetry, song film and all aspects of culture. So much so we enshrined culture as one of the main aspects of…
Iain Robertson memorial for Allan Armstrong
I met Allan through Myra over 40 years ago when I started working at Firrhill High School where Myra was teaching. I was quickly drawn in to the politics of the teachers Rank and File group of which both Myra and Allan were active members. This began a process of political awakening for me and…
Nick Steff memorial for Allan Armstrong
The Republican Communist Network was originally set up in 1999 and Allan was one its primary architects. The aim of the RCN was to bring together 2 key aspects of Allan’s beliefs. Firstly, Internationalism from Below, which involved the RCN joining, on a principled basis, with republican communists from Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales. The…
Highland Sparks
HIGHLAND SPARKS The following article, Highland Sparks, was written for bella caledonia, by George Gunn, From the Province of the Cat, 21.3.24 Let me begin by stating two things which are both true and untrue. One: Scottish theatre is full of talented and energetic artists. Scottish theatre is being pulled apart by managers and bureaucrats.…
Sinn Féin, the IRA and the betrayal of the Palestinians
In this hard hitting article by Georoid O’Loingsigh, first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland), he exposes the hypocrisy behind the Sinn Fein leadership, over its stance on Palestine and its kowtowing to Biden’s US imperialism. SINN FEIN, THE IRA AND THE PALESTINIANS Following a peace process in which the armed group, which is not the…
Memories of Alan Boylan
MEMORIES OF ALAN BOYLAN (1957 – 2024) In 1996, when socialists and communists across Scotland formed the Scottish Socialist Alliance, a larger-than-life figure came into our lives. Alan Boylan was at that time a member of the SNP Trade Union Group. A loud, brash, working class Dundonian, Alan was looking for answers and was being…
The John Maclean Centenary Concert
The following article was written by Jim Aitken and was first posted by Culture Matters. It spotlights the exceptional concert held as part of Celtic Connections in Glasgow’s Concert Hall. THE JOHN MACLEAN CENTENARY CONCERT Celtic Connections put on a wonderful concert recently, in memory of Scotland’s great Marxist revolutionary, John Maclean (1879 -1923). Glasgow’s magnificent…
‘YesCymru’ buoyed by new report that says independence is “viable”- Is independence a step closer?
The following article was first posted by The Canary. It is the latest in a series highlighting Cymru’s dissatisfaction with the Union and the possibilities this opens up. ‘YES CYMRU’ BUOYED BY NEW REPORT THAT SAYS INDEPENDENCE IS “VIABLE” – IS INDEPENDENCE A STEP CLOSER? Campaign group YesCymru has welcomed a landmark report into Wales’s constitutional future…
Four ‘Just Stop Oil’ supporters found not guilty, as judge declares they had lawful excuse to disrupt parliament
The following article was written and posted by The Canary. It highlights a success for a group which understands the nature of the UK state but is still prepared to take action in defiance of this state. FOUR ‘JUST STOP OIL’ SUPPORTERS FOUND NOT GUILTY, AS JUDGE DECLARES THEY HAD LAWFUL EXCUSE TO DISRUPT PARLIAMENT…