'Forgotten revolutionary' to be celebrated in Salford

Sean McLoughlin is described as "Ireland's forgotten revolutionary" but he played prominent roles in the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, the formation of Ireland's first communist party and in the British socialist movement in the early and mid-1920s, when he lived in Hartlepool then settled in Sheffield.

He is now the subject of a book by Charlie McGuire, who will be speaking at the WCML on Saturday.

Mr McGuire reveals that during the last hours of the rising McLoughlin, who died in 1960, was promoted to the position of commandant-general of the forces of the Irish Republic. Despite this, for years he was given only passing reference in histories and accounts of the rising.

David Granville, online editor of the Irish Democrat and contributor to the WCML, said: "McLoughlin's involvement in radical and revolutionary movements in both Britain and Ireland follows in the tradition of figures such as Edinburgh-born James Connolly and of Chartist leaders Bronterre O'Brien and Fergus O'Connor.

"Historians and friends of Ireland on both sides of the Irish Sea owe a particular debt of gratitude to Charlie McGuire for shining a spotlight on this remarkable, and until very recently, largely forgotten story.

"We're delighted to have Charlie come to speak at the library on Saturday October 13."

The book is called Ireland's Forgotten Revolutionary and the free event starts at 2pm. For more, visit www.wcml.org.uk/enewsletters.