Leitrim - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

Jim Gralton Commemorative Ceremony

leitrim | anti-capitalism | event notice

Wednesday December 28, 2005 00:56

by Gerry Bambrick - Connolly Forum

A wreath laying ceremony will be held at the site of Jim Gralton’s Pearse-connolly Hall in Gowel, Drumsna, Co. Leitrim, on this Thursday afternoon the 29th December at 3.30.p.m. to mark the 60th anniversary of the death of the famous Leitrim socialist. The event is being held under the auspices of the connolly forum.

Gralton was the only Irishman ever deported by a native government. Born near Effernagh, Co. Leitrim, in 1886, Jim Gralton emigrated to America as a young man. It was in the U.S.A. that he became involved in the labour struggles of the time. Never breaking his links with Ireland he was active in the connolly Club in New York, which also counted among its members Jim Larkin, Nora connolly and Liam Mellows.

When he returned to Leitrim in 1932 to help his aged parents, he became immersed in left wing political activity. He joined the Revolutionary Workers Group, spoke at numerous anti-eviction meetings and re-opened the Pearse-connolly Hall in Gowel, Co. Leitrim. When a massive Red Scare enveloped the country in 1933, Gralton became the victim of a political witch-hunt and was deported from Ireland as “an undesirable alien”. He became the only Irishman ever to be deported from his native land.

The Leitrim socialist was never allowed to return to Ireland and spent the remaining days of his life in the American Labour movement. He again became involved in the Irish Workers Clubs in New York, reprinted connolly’s pamphlets, raised funds for the International Brigades in Spain and participated in the many political campaigns of the period. He died in Bellevue Hospital, New York on the 29th December 1945, and was buried in Woodlawn cemetery.

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Comments (14 of 14)

any more info?

by who are connolly forum?

Wed Dec 28, 2005 18:43

grateful forany more information regarding connolly forum. website? etc. Is it linked to Peter Urbans group/ magazine connolly forum? Thanks

Connolly Forum

by BS

Wed Dec 28, 2005 19:53

The Connolly Forum is a broad left group established in Sligo about 18 months ago.

It has organised a number of talks and lectures in the Trades Club in Sligo. It had a Cuban Trade Unionist and MP speaking at a meeting last December and it hosted the Miami Five Meeting and Film Show in the Model Niland Galley earlier this year. It also organised this years May Day demonstration in Sligo.

Gralton Ceremony Postponed

by Gerry Bambrick

Thu Dec 29, 2005 14:08

GRALTON CEREMONY POSTPONED

The Jim Gralton Commemorative Ceremony which was to take place at the site of Graltons Pearse-Connolly Hall, in Gowel, County Leitrim, this afternoon (Thursday 29th December) has been postponed due to hazardous road conditions.

The event will now take place on Sunday next the 1st of January in Gowel at 3.30.p.m.

Jim Gralton Commemoration

by Jimmy Kelly

Fri Dec 30, 2005 04:29

Best wishes to yourself Gerry and I hope for success for the commemoration of a man who left his mark on the Red Labour Tradition of Leitrim.
Maybe your committee might find some time and resources to similarly salute William Partridge who was a courageous trades unionist and labour representative who stood by Connolly in the Citizens Army and who now lies in a somewhat neglected grave in Ballaghaderreen.
Although I am unlikely to be able to attend, could you advise directions to the cermony site,
Fraternal regards,
Jimmy Kelly.

by Boxty

Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:50

I have just finished Hugh Geraghty's excelent book on the the life and times of Richard Partridge and agree whole heartedly with your sentiments regarding his resting place in Ballahadereen.

The Connolly Forum meets regularly a the Sligo United Trades Club, Castle street ,Sligo.

Gowel

Fri Dec 30, 2005 13:09

Gowel is a short distance from the village of Drumsna (Co. Leitrim).

A number of people will be assembling in Drumsna at 3.00.p.m. approx and will then travel to the site of the Pearse-Connolly Hall

by Mick Hall - Connolly Association

Sun Jan 01, 2006 21:30

dehal01 at hotmail dot com

Anyone associated with the Sligo Connolly Forum is welcome to voice their opinions in the Irish Democrat. A letters column/platform is featured in the paper - letters, etc, can be sent to: editor@irishdemocrat.co.uk

Mick (t) Hall
Editor

Jimmy Gralton's values are fundamental to what our movement is all about - says Bree

Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:25

Speaking at the Gralton commemorative ceremony in Leitrim on Sunday, the former Mayor of Sligo, Alderman Declan Bree, criticised “elements” in today’s Labour movement who he said would have the movement discard its philosophy to keep the main establishment parties in power.
Alderman Bree was speaking at a wreath laying ceremony organised by the Connolly Forum, at the site of Gralton’s Pearse-Connolly Hall in Gowel, Co Letirim, to mark the 60th anniversary of the death of the famous Leitrim socialist.

Mr Des Guckian, author of the book “Deported” also spoke at the event and floral tributes were laid at the site by: Mr John Rooney, on behalf of the Gralton Centenary Committee, Mr John Dunne on behalf of the Connolly Forum, and by Ms Connie Faughnan and Ms Fiona Morrison on behalf of the extended Gralton family.

Mr Gerry Bambrick, who presided welcomed those who had travelled from other counties for the event and he particularly welcomed the Deputy Mayor of Galway, Cllr. Colette Connolly. Mr Bambrick pointed out that when a massive Red Scare enveloped Ireland in 1933, Jimmy Gralton became the victim of a political witch-hunt and was deported as “an undesirable alien”. “He became the only Irishman ever to be deported and was never allowed return to his native country. He spent the remaining years of his life in the American Labour movement and was buried in New York’s Woodlawn cemetery 60 years ago this week.” he said.

The main speaker, Alderman Bree said: “Today, people who would have us compromise, would say that socialist activists like Jimmy Gralton and James Connolly were born before their time – that their ideas and philosophy were much too advanced. Others would suggest that their ideas were too radical.

“Unfortunately, people who hold such views and who would have us compromise on our principles can today be found in the ranks of our own movement.

“They are the same elements who consistently attempt to undermine our ideology and who would have the labour and socialist movement in Ireland discard its philosophy and its values and become mere props to keep the main establishment parties in power.

“Our challenge today is to make it abundantly clear to these elements that like Connolly’s ideology, Gralton’s philosophy and Gralton’s values are fundamental to what our movement is all about.

“Today the left in Ireland cannot afford to allow the opportunities now opening up to be exploited in the interests of those who wish to enrich themselves at the expense of the majority of our citizens.

“We need to fight for the vision of an alternative Ireland, a society driven by values other than greed, environmental degradation and blind consumerism.” Alderman Bree said.

“And that fight must be on both the political and economic fronts.

“After decades of so called “social partnership” and a doubling of the work-force, we must recognise that our trade union movement is now weaker than at any time in our history.

“Trade unions currently represent less that 30% of all workers in the private sector.

“Social Partnership, over-emphasis on full-time officials and the reduction in the role of shop stewards has led to the decline of the trade union presence on the shop floor.

“The outcome of the Irish Ferries dispute has ramifications for workers in all sectors of the Irish economy. The undercutting of workers wages and conditions will not stop at the private sector as our public services are continuing to open up under E.U. directives to compulsory competitive tendering.

“The reality is that if we are to succeed in our fight, and we need to succeed, and if the labour and trade union movement is to mean anything or to have a future, then we need to advance our struggle in a way that shows that we are determined and committed to real and radical change.

“Speaking at Jim Gralton’s grave in Woodlawn cemetery, New York, sixy years ago this week, John Mullally said of Gralton:- ‘He lived during two world wars and convinced many of his friends that wars and depression are not the way to solve the problems of mankind.

Stone monuments were built in memory of men in the past. This is not the kind of monument Jim Gralton wanted, but a world in which human beings can have security, be free from hunger and misery, with sufficient leisure time to study art and music; a world wherein there will be no wars, famine or depressions in the midst of plenty.’

“And Charlie Byrne, Gralton’s comrade said:- ‘Let all of us who believe in the principles for which Gralton stood, pledge ourselves anew to the continuation of the fight for the complete political, cultural and economic rights of the working classes in all lands, no crying, no weeping over his grave at Woodlawn. There is work to be done, so let us carry on; Gralton would have it that way.’” said Alderman Bree.

My Cousin Jim

by Sean Kane - Morris County NJ (U.S.A.) Ancient Order of Hibernians

Thu Jun 14, 2007 02:02

kane_s at hotmail dot com

Jim Gralton was my cousin (as are Ms Connie Faughnan and Ms Fiona Morrison). There was one story my cousin Mary Bridget (Morrison; God rest her soul) told of Jim was threatening a local British "land owner"/occupier with a gun. Needless to say he soon left. I think some distant relative of ours also mentioned this on RootsWeb.

I haven't visited my cousin's grave in Brooklyn, NY (my sister resides there) although I intend to. It's nice to know that he is still in people's hearts.

I'm not a socialist by any stretch, but I can say as you move from country to country it is very easy for right to become left and left to become right. By the way I am not speaking in any official AOH capacity here.

Regards,

Sean Kane
Former President
Morris County Ancient Order of Hibernians (in America)

Query Hugh Geraghty Book

by Red and Green - None

Fri Feb 22, 2008 16:30

Anybody know the title fo the Hugh Geraghty book referred to here? Where can it be got?

Gralton commemoration

by Red and Green

Fri Feb 22, 2008 18:38

Sorry but I forgot to ask whether or not there will be a commemoration or not this year and if so when is it taking place?

Hugh's book

by Nora Geraghty

Tue Mar 04, 2008 15:23

Hugh's book is called William Patrick Partridge And His Times (1874-1917) and you would almost certainly find a copy in Connolly Books, Temple Bar.

If they don't have it for any reason, it is published by Curlew Books and the ISBN number is: 0-9546055-0-0.

I hope you find it and enjoy it!

Thanks Nora

Tue Mar 04, 2008 18:41

Thanks Nora. Very much appreciated

Hugh Geraghty commemeration

Sat Mar 08, 2008 04:12

We're having a get together at the Clé Club on Wednesday next.

All welcome, details on club dates page:

http://cleclub.wetpaint.com/page/Dates

Also, the Clé Club website has a new obits page, first one is dedicated to Hugh. In time there will be others. Contributions welcome:

http://cleclub.wetpaint.com/page/Hugh+Geraghty+1946-2007

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Jim Gralton Commemorative Ceremony

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