Leftists in Ireland.....

[Stallit 2 de Halfo]

There are two interesting discussions going on about party membership numbers.

One is here...

www.indymedia.ie/article/86291&comment_limit=0&condense_comments=false

Other here...

cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/news-from-working-class-action-and-some-thoughts-on-left-activism-in-ireland/#comments

Here's my guess re. the existing groups. I think I'm right in my figures (corrections welcome).

REFORMIST AND NATIONALIST LEFT
Labour Party 2,000 (mostly paper members)
Sinn Fein 1,500 (many up north)
Eirigi 70
IRSP 200 (but mostly inactive 'family' members)

LIBERTARIAN LEFT
WSM 60
ISN 25-30
Organise 5 or 6

LENINIST LEFT
SWP 150
Socialist Party 150
Workers Party 100
Communist Party 60 to 70

I guess thats the cold reality then. There's probably more scientology loons than marxists in Ireland. Sad isnt it.

[Papa C.]

IRSP - Reformist and nationalist? I know there's more than 70 in Eirigi anyway. Looking at this our membership doesn't seem so bad lol!I'm surprised there's more IRSP than SWP as the SWP seem to be all over the place.

[Stallit 2 de Halfo]

We nearly have as many members as Organise! - cool.

[Papa C.]

Yeah, pretty close lol. I notice Socialist Democracy (formerly People's democracy) aren't there. I heard somewhere they have about 3 but I don't know for sure.

[voxpopuli]

The only way to change that comrades is to get active. I don't think everyone in the IRSP are family either.