SAM NOLAN: IRISH SOCIALIST
Feb 25th, 2010 by Conor McCabe
Here is a short clip from an interview between Mick O’Reilly and Sam Nolan.
So far we have filmed two sessions with Sam, each two hours long.
We’re hoping to conduct at least three more interviews with Sam over the next month or so.
In this short five-minute clip, Sam talks about trade unionism in Dublin in the 1940s: first, his experience with the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (ASW); and second, his opinion of the ITGWU in response to a question from myself.
As with the Joe Deasy clip, the sound and picture still need work, so this is just to give a flavour of what we hope will be a series of documentaries on Irish labour and working class history.
Sam Nolan January 2010 from conormccabe on Vimeo.
Conor, Congrats on your excellent series of films on left wing labour figures in Dublin. I am a member of the Irish Labour History Society in Tuam. I was very interested in Sam Nolan’s mention of Walter Carpenter. There was a Connaught regional organiser of the ITGWU named James W Carpenter (pronounced Carpen-tier locally) based in Tuam from 1933 and he was labour dail candidate Bobby Burke’s election agent in his first election in 1933. The Transport Union was fairly strong in the town in mid-1930’s. James W left Tuam about 1938 and possibly went to England then? I asked Joe Deasy but he did not remember him. Any info appreciated. Maurice
Thank you for the comment, Maurice. I don’t know if it’s the same Walter Carpenter but I’m back recording Sam Nolan next Thursday, so I’ll make sure to ask him.
Conor, Thanks for reply. I forgot to mention that James was a Dubliner. Possibly Walter was his father.
Best of luck with your films,
Maurice
Hello,
just seen this site and here is some info. Walter Carpenter of the ASW that Sam Nolan is talking about is was OC of the boy’s corps of the ICA. In the famous picture of the ICA outside Liberty Hall he is the small guy with the big sword. Was attached to HQ staff in 1916 but was stationed across street so escaped after the fall of the GPO. Was involved during war of independence and may have been the first of the former ICA men to go into Four Courts in 1922 (was close to Liam Mellows) was in prison in Mountjoy with other officers when the four leaders were executed by Free State. Remained active in left wing republican affairs and as a carpenter by trade as well as name in the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (ASW) becoming an official later.
Sorry forgot to say James Carpenter was not related
That’s great Walter, thanks very much for the information.