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The Linen Hall Library of Belfast, who maintain an exceptional collection
of documents related to the history of Irish republicanism, as well as
Irish political thought and action in general were the recipients of
archival material related to the erection of a statue of James Connolly in
Troy, New York. Troy is where Connolly lived during a significant portion
of his time spent in the United States as an activist with the Socialist
Labor Party, the Industrial Workers of the World, and the Irish Socialist
Federation and the erection of the bust of Connolly was an undertaking of
trade union and Irish organisations in tribute to Connolly's contribution
to the working class struggle in both Ireland and the United States.
The archival material was donated to the Irish Republican Socialist Party, who in turn donated these materials to the Linen Library, thereby making them available to the public for purposes of research. We have been told that the Linen Library staff "are over the moon" over the gift from the IRSP of the materials from Troy. We in the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America, who acted as intermediaries, are in turn grateful to those involved in the erection of the monument to Connolly in Troy for having entrusted us with their archives and hope that they will be gratified that their archives have achieved a final home, where they will be appreciated for years to come. It is the intention of the IRSCNA to eventually initiate an annual commemoration in honour of Connolly at the site of the statue in Troy. (For more information on the Troy monument, please visit http://www.wageslave.org/jcs/projects/troy/) |