I was honoured to be invited to the Jim Connell Festival in Crossakiel, Co. Meath earlier this month to sing "The Red Flag," the international socialist anthem. Jim Connell, born in nearby Kilskyre, was a Fenian and socialist, is commemorated in Crossakiel, the last place he spoke in Ireland.
You can read more on Jim Connell on Helena Sheehan's page here.
I have been involved with the song ever since the Tom Johnson Summer School was held in nearby Kells in 2004 and SIPTU historian Francis Devine presented a lecture on the song and the man. I proposed the song be adopted as the Labour Party anthem at the 2007 Conference, a tradition which continues to this day.
Here I am singing it at the Jim Connell Festival earlier this month. It was my first time singing with a full brass band - hence the timing issues!
