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Con Lehane (socialist)
Encyclopedia
Cornelius "Con" Lehane (1877–31 December 1919) was a socialist active in the Irish Socialist Republican Party
, the Social Democratic Federation
, and the Socialist Party of Great Britain
.
Lehane was born in Coachford
, County Cork
in 1877. Although a graduate in Irish
and chemistry
from the Cork Technical School, by profession Lehane was a clerk (cf. E. J. B. Allen). Like Valentine McEntee, Lehane had been a member of James Connolly
’s Irish Socialist Republican Party
and indeed was one of the dozen or so most important members. As ‘Proletarian’ he wrote many articles for the ISRP journal, The Workers Republic, and designed the front cover for the ISRP’s Workers’ Republic pamphlet series. (He may well have designed the cover of the SPGB’s first pamphlet, which is carried out in a similar fashion). O’Lyhane, as he was then known, was the moving force behind the Cork branch (1897–1902). He clashed with Connolly over the latter’s attempts to mollify Catholic
opinion by a ban on religious discussion within the party. In 1902 as a result of his uncompromising atheism he was denounced from the pulpit and lost his job.
Lehane is described as "the colourful and brash ISRP organiser in Cork. Young, energetic and with a strong grasp of socialist politics," by the historian of the ISRP, David Lynch. David Lynch devotes almost a chapter in his book about the ISRP to Con Lehane, Radical Politics in Modern Ireland A History of the Irish Socialist Republican Party 1896-1904. .
He then moved to England, joining the Social Democratic Federation
around the turn of the century.
Lehane eventually left the SDF and was a founding member of the Socialist Party of Great Britain
in 1904. He was the first General Secretary of the SPGB (June 1904 to August 1905) and was a prominent public speaker for the Party. He was expelled along with most of the rest of Islington branch on 18 September 1906. His downfall came as follows. At the 1906 Annual Conference Bexley
branch tabled a motion calling on the party to adopt a policy of socialist industrial unionism
. This was voted down and charges brought against the branch. They were eventually expelled but Islington
branch, led by Lehane, argued that the question should never have arisen and demanded that the Executive Committee should be removed for not rescinding the Bexley resolution and refusing to alter the record of the resolution. Islington ceased activity when this did not happen. Charges were hence brought against the branch. After being expelled the group continued to meet for a while as Islington branch of the SPGB (in the fashion of the dissident branches of the 1990s
) and published two pamphlets (Rocks Ahead and More Rocks Ahead) both authored by Lehane.
Some time after leaving the SPGB he emigrated to the U.S.
, where in 1913 he cooperated with Larkin. The SPGB noted his presence there in 1915. In 1917 he was jailed for his opposition to the war
. He died on 31 December 1919 in a New York
hospital shortly after being released from prison.
It is possible that left-wing nationalist, 1930s member of the IRA Army Council
and Dáil
representative Con Lehane (1911–1983) was his son.
Irish Socialist Republican Party
The Irish Socialist Republican Party was a pivotal Irish political party founded in 1896 by James Connolly. Its aim was to establish an Irish workers' republic...
, the Social Democratic Federation
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term...
, and the Socialist Party of Great Britain
Socialist Party of Great Britain
The Socialist Party of Great Britain , is a small Marxist political party within the impossibilist tradition. It is best known for its advocacy of using the ballot box for revolutionary purposes; opposition to reformism; and its early adoption of the theory of state capitalism to describe the...
.
Lehane was born in Coachford
Coachford
Coachford is a village west of Cork City, in County Cork, Ireland. It is located on the north side of the River Lee. Coachford got its name from Áth an Chóiste as there used to be a narrow ford across a stream...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1877. Although a graduate in Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from the Cork Technical School, by profession Lehane was a clerk (cf. E. J. B. Allen). Like Valentine McEntee, Lehane had been a member of James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
’s Irish Socialist Republican Party
Irish Socialist Republican Party
The Irish Socialist Republican Party was a pivotal Irish political party founded in 1896 by James Connolly. Its aim was to establish an Irish workers' republic...
and indeed was one of the dozen or so most important members. As ‘Proletarian’ he wrote many articles for the ISRP journal, The Workers Republic, and designed the front cover for the ISRP’s Workers’ Republic pamphlet series. (He may well have designed the cover of the SPGB’s first pamphlet, which is carried out in a similar fashion). O’Lyhane, as he was then known, was the moving force behind the Cork branch (1897–1902). He clashed with Connolly over the latter’s attempts to mollify Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
opinion by a ban on religious discussion within the party. In 1902 as a result of his uncompromising atheism he was denounced from the pulpit and lost his job.
Lehane is described as "the colourful and brash ISRP organiser in Cork. Young, energetic and with a strong grasp of socialist politics," by the historian of the ISRP, David Lynch. David Lynch devotes almost a chapter in his book about the ISRP to Con Lehane, Radical Politics in Modern Ireland A History of the Irish Socialist Republican Party 1896-1904. .
He then moved to England, joining the Social Democratic Federation
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term...
around the turn of the century.
Lehane eventually left the SDF and was a founding member of the Socialist Party of Great Britain
Socialist Party of Great Britain
The Socialist Party of Great Britain , is a small Marxist political party within the impossibilist tradition. It is best known for its advocacy of using the ballot box for revolutionary purposes; opposition to reformism; and its early adoption of the theory of state capitalism to describe the...
in 1904. He was the first General Secretary of the SPGB (June 1904 to August 1905) and was a prominent public speaker for the Party. He was expelled along with most of the rest of Islington branch on 18 September 1906. His downfall came as follows. At the 1906 Annual Conference Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
branch tabled a motion calling on the party to adopt a policy of socialist industrial unionism
Industrial unionism
Industrial unionism is a labor union organizing method through which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union—regardless of skill or trade—thus giving workers in one industry, or in all industries, more leverage in bargaining and in strike situations...
. This was voted down and charges brought against the branch. They were eventually expelled but Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
branch, led by Lehane, argued that the question should never have arisen and demanded that the Executive Committee should be removed for not rescinding the Bexley resolution and refusing to alter the record of the resolution. Islington ceased activity when this did not happen. Charges were hence brought against the branch. After being expelled the group continued to meet for a while as Islington branch of the SPGB (in the fashion of the dissident branches of the 1990s
Socialist Studies (1989)
Socialist Studies was first published in 1989 by the Camden and North West London branches of the Socialist Party of Great Britain, though since issue № 3 it has been published by an independent organisation ....
) and published two pamphlets (Rocks Ahead and More Rocks Ahead) both authored by Lehane.
Some time after leaving the SPGB he emigrated to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where in 1913 he cooperated with Larkin. The SPGB noted his presence there in 1915. In 1917 he was jailed for his opposition to the war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He died on 31 December 1919 in a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
hospital shortly after being released from prison.
It is possible that left-wing nationalist, 1930s member of the IRA Army Council
IRA Army Council
The IRA Army Council was the decision-making body of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, more commonly known as the IRA, a paramilitary group dedicated to bringing about the end of the Union between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The council had seven members, said by the...
and Dáil
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
representative Con Lehane (1911–1983) was his son.
Further reading
- Radical Politics in Modern Ireland: A History of the Irish Socialist Republican Party (ISRP) 1896-1904 David Lynch, Dublin, Irish Academic Press 2005. ISBN 0-7165-3356-1.