Saor Éire
Saor Éire | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Peadar O'Donnell |
| Chairman | Seán Hayes |
| Founded | September 1931 |
| Banned | October 1931 |
| Ideology | Irish republicanism Communism |
| Political position | Far-left |
| Colors | Red |
| Part of a series on |
| Irish republicanism |
|---|
Saor Éire (IPA: [ˌsˠeːɾˠ ˈeːɾʲə, ˌsˠiːɾˠ -]; lit. 'Free Ireland') was a far-left political organisation in the Irish Free State established in September 1931 by communist-leaning members of the Irish Republican Army, with the backing of the IRA leadership. Notable among its founders was Peadar O'Donnell, former editor of An Phoblacht and a leading far-left figure in the IRA. Saor Éire described itself as "an organisation of workers and working farmers".
It has been suggested that the support of the then IRA chief of staff, Moss (Maurice) Twomey, was instrumental in the organisation's establishment. However, Tim Pat Coogan claimed that Twomey was doubtful about the organisation, worrying about involvement in electoral politics and possible communist influence.
During its short existence Saor Éire used the republican publication An Phoblacht, under the editorship of Frank Ryan between 1926–1933, to report on its progress and to promote its far-left republican views.