Bottom Dog podcast
The Story of the Limerick Soviet 1919
April 1919. Tanks on the streets of Limerick. Workers on strike. A soviet declared. The workers control prices and produce food. They even have their own police force and money. Listen to this amazing true story of popular uprising, betrayal and a city that defied an empire.
Episodes come out every Saturday during the Limerick Soviet 100 festival starting April 6th and ending on May 4th. You can listen here, but we highly recommend subscribing in your podcast app. If you don’t have a podcast app we recommend Castro on iPhone or Google Podcasts on Android.
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acastAn amazing true story of revolt, hope, opportunity and betrayal, told across 5 episodes
1) The Worker's Rising
This episode covers the rapid growth of radical trade unionism and socialism in Limerick leading up to 1919, the opposition and resistance to the British occupation, the untold story of the role of women workers in the soviet and what lead to the decision to call the strike
Get the show notes here.
2) A New 'Boss' in Town
This episode will look at how the Soviet ran the city, produced food, printed money, set up their own police force and even brought down the price of milk.
3) Revolution Betrayed
4) The Road Not Taken
Our second last episode will consider other similar revolts across Ireland at the time, including the forgotten story of ‘Take Back the City’-style housing occupations movement in Limerick in 1921, the alternative vision of a workers republic that inspired so many and how that path was shut off
5) Limerick Soviet 2.0?
Finally we will look at the lessons from the struggle for today, what can we learn from how unions organised low paid and precarious workers rapidly, how left and socialist ideas became commonplace, but also why the struggle did not produce the revolution dreamt of and lessons for those who want to make change today
Help crowdfund the Limerick Soviet Podcast
You can support by giving as little as €1 (or as much as €500!). Those who donate anything will also receive some extra benefits:
- €2+ A Baby Soviet – you get added to an email list and will get an email once or twice a month with some sneak peaks of the script, some small stories from events of the time, and notices about things taking place as part of the Limerick Soviet 100 festival
- €5+ A Cleeves Striker – You get an advanced copy of the first episode, as well as the emails above
- €15+ A Strike leader – Access to the full interviews (not just the clips we use in the podcast itself) as well as everything above
- €30+ A Soviet Commissar – Advanced access to scripts, early drafts, and an opportunity to provide input and feedback to help make the series even better as well as everything above
- €50+ The Sean Dowling special –
A special mention on the podcast and flyers, 10 flyers and 3 stickers posted to you, as well as everything above.Donors of €50+ now will receive everything in ‘A Soviet Commissar’ + flyers, stickers in the post.
For online payments you will be redirected to a secure PayPal page, where you can pay by your PayPal account, or if you don’t have an account simply click ‘Pay with a Bank Account or Credit Card’ to pay directly. Offline donations, bank transfers, Circle or Verse transfers and donation pledges can also be made by selecting ‘Offline Donation’ and replying to the email you get telling me how/when you can pay.
Meet The Host
Cian Prendiville
Cian is a socialist activist in Limerick, and sits on the Limerick Soviet Centenary Committee. A member of Solidarity and the Socialist Party, Cian has been active on the left in Limerick for almost 15 years. A former councillor, Cian lead the anti-water charges movement in Limerick, was actively involved in the Repeal the 8th campaign and is currently involved in Limerick Housing Action.
Get In Touch
Have a question, suggestion or just want to wish me well? Feel free to send a message using the form.