League for a Workers' Republic
The League for a Workers' Republic (LWR) was a Trotskyist group active in Ireland from 1968 into the 1990s. It began when members of the Irish Workers' Group, itself born from a split in the Irish Communist Group, wanted more active work in Ireland and a base outside London. Founders included Paddy Healy, Carol Coulter, Basil Miller and others; Liam Daltun helped start it but died soon after. Sean Matgamna supported the move at first but left soon after.
In its early years the LWR connected with various left-wing currents in Ireland and Britain. Some members were linked to the Young Socialists and the International Marxist Group; the group saw several splits over international affiliations. A nearby Trotskyist current, the Revolutionary Marxist Group (Ireland), formed from a split in the early 1970s. In 1972 the LWR became independent and began publishing Workers’ Republic, while some supporters also worked with the Irish Labour Party.
The LWR took part in broader left movements. It joined the Socialist Labour Alliance in 1971 and backed large protest campaigns, such as the late-1970s tax marches and the 1981 Hunger Strikes (Paddy Healy even ran for the Dáil on an Anti H-Block platform). The group also supported international solidarity causes, including Eastern European dissidents, Latin American and South African workers.
Over time, the LWR split again. In 1988 several members left, and a later split in the early 1990s led to the creation of a non-Trotskyist publication, The Irish Reporter, which ran from 1990 to 2001. Some LWR members, including Paddy Healy, stayed in a looser left group with others, but the formal LWR effectively dissolved in the early 1990s.
Several former members continued to influence Irish politics. Séamus Healy, Paddy Healy’s brother, became a prominent local and national figure, later serving as a Teachta Dála (TD). Alex White rose to the Irish Senate and later served as a minister. John Daly worked with overseas charities and helped establish Fairtrade labeling in Ireland. Carol Coulter went on to a long career as a legal editor for the Irish Times. Others moved on to different political paths, including Sinn Féin and the Irish Labour Party.
In summary, the LWR was a key Irish Trotskyist group from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, influencing student and union activism, participating in major labour and solidarity campaigns, and leaving a legacy through its members’ subsequent political roles.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:37 (CET).