JIM CONNELL REMEMBERED

RMTnews :: may 2008 :: www.rmt.org.uk 34 R MT general secretary Bob Crow attended the trade union festival in Kells, County Meath, Ireland this month to celebrate the life of Jim Connell who wrote the socialist anthem The Red Flag in 1889. The festival marked the tenth anniversary of the Jim Connell memorial stone at Crossakiel, Kells. A relative of Jim Connell from Cork, Maura Geraghty (above), was guest of honour with Bob Crow. Jim Connell wrote the anthem of the international socialist movement on a train from Charing Cross to New Cross during the London dock strike. He addressed a crowd at Crossakiel on his last visit to Ireland before he died in London in 1929. Bob addressed the crowd at this year’s event, pointing out that if Jim Connell was here today he would recognize many of the problems facing working people and their organisations. “We must find the confidence that Jim Connell inspired with his words and defend and extend workers’ rights,” he said. JIM CONNELL REMEMBERED The people's flag is deepest red, It shrouded oft our martyred dead, And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold, Their hearts' blood dyed its ev'ry fold. Then raise the scarlet standard high. Within its shade we'll live and die, Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here. Look 'round, the Frenchman loves its blaze, The sturdy German chants its praise, In Moscow's vaults its hymns are sung Chicago swells the surging throng. Then raise the scarlet standard high. Within its shade we'll live and die, Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here. Jim Connell