Politics & Cultural Influence

Irish Left Archive Podcast

Throughout 2023 we have asked podcast guests if there are any cultural artefacts or events that they consider particularly influential on their politics.

This episode brings together responses from historian Mary Muldowney, anarchist activist Gregor Kerr, Republican activist Des Dalton, author Michael Flavin, historian Brian Hanley, and Irish Anarchist Network activists Nestor and Saornil. Below, in the order they are mentioned, are our guest’s choices for politically influential books, films, music, events and media.

(Where possible, we’ve linked to publicly accessible versions. Others are linked to further information.)

• Ermanno Olmi – The Tree of Wooden Clogs
• Frank Capra – It’s A Wonderful Life
• Robert Tressell – The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists
• Dunnes Stores Anti-Apartheid strike
• 1913 Lockout 100th Anniversary Plaque in Dun Laoghaire
• Ernie O’Malley - On Another Man’s Wound and The Singing Flame
• J. Bowyer Bell - The Secret Army
• Caught in A Free State
• George Orwell - Homage to Catalonia
• Geoffrey Robertson - Reluctant Judas: Life and Death of the Special Branch Informer Kenneth Lennon
• The Jam – The Gift
• The Style Council – Our Favourite Shop
• Eamonn McCann – War and an Irish Town
• V for Vendetta
• Margaret Killjoy
• Robert Evans & Jake Hanrahan – The Women’s War