László Molnárfi
Thursday 27 February 2025
Founded three years ago, the Roots Party is an emerging political movement that aims to address the systemic neglect of rural and working-class communities in Ireland. Born out of grassroots frustration, it has steadily grown into a dynamic force advocating agrarian syndicalism, workers’ rights, and economic equality. In a recent interview, party representative April Maria Sheehan Corkery shared insights into its origins, core ideologies, and aspirations, painting a picture of a party committed to fostering change from the ground up.
The Roots Party traces its beginnings to a call-to-action on an Irish anarchist TikTok account, which led to the creation of a Discord server that became the party’s nucleus. Although initially hampered by leadership vacuums, a core group solidified the movement’s foundation. Today, the Roots Party boasts a “floating membership” of around 150 individuals who contribute across various capacities.
Central to the party’s platform is its emphasis on rural Ireland. Historically, rural areas have been marginalized in favor of urban-centric policies, creating disparities in development and representation. “Rural votes carry more weight than urban ones,” April pointed out, citing disparities in electoral seat distribution that favor counties like Tipperary over urban centers like Limerick City. Recognizing this advantage, the Roots Party sees rural communities as crucial to driving broader societal change.
The party’s critique of mainstream socialist movements underscores this strategy. “An awful lot of mainstream socialist parties make enemies out of the rural population for no particular reason,” April lamented. This antagonism, often tied to environmental policies or urban bias, alienates rural voters. The Roots Party, in contrast, advocates for inclusive approaches that address environmental concerns without vilifying rural communities.
A cornerstone of the Roots Party’s vision is agrarian syndicalism, which combines principles of agricultural sustainability with participatory economics. “Wealth is not money; wealth is access and control over resources,” April asserted. The party aims to decentralize economic power by empowering communities to collectively manage resources, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.
The plight of small farmers and food industry workers exemplifies the urgent need for reform. Many farmers, reliant on EU subsidies, earn less than minimum wage, while meat processors exploit laborers, often migrants, under harsh conditions. The party proposes policies to ensure fair compensation for agricultural products, such as mandating factories to pay farmers at least 20% above production costs. This approach would restore dignity to farming while challenging corporate dominance in the food industry. The party also stressed the urgent need for Ireland to prioritize national self-sufficiency and sustainable development. “We need to be able to produce for ourselves,” April asserted. From agriculture to manufacturing, fostering a robust domestic economy is seen as crucial to safeguarding the nation’s future amid global uncertainty. She called for stricter corporate regulations, lamenting the current system of “rugged laissez-faire for the general population” contrasted with “bailout galore for corporations.”
Ireland’s housing crisis is another key focus. Rural areas face unique challenges, with restrictive planning laws turning disadvantaged regions into “open-air museums” that prioritize aesthetics over livability. Young people, unable to secure housing, are forced to migrate to cities, exacerbating urban overcrowding.
To address this, the Roots Party advocates for a comprehensive overhaul of planning regulations. Proposals include:
- Planning Exemptions for Social Housing: Streamlining approvals to bypass bureaucratic hurdles and counteract opposition from NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) groups.
- Relaxed Regulations for Owner-Occupiers: Simplifying the process for individuals and housing cooperatives to build homes using sustainable, cost-effective methods, such as modular log cabins.
- State-Led Construction Initiatives: Establishing a state-run construction company to manufacture affordable, prefabricated housing, addressing both cost and labor shortages.
Such measures aim to make housing accessible while fostering community-driven development.
At its core, the Roots Party seeks to dismantle systemic inequalities that divide urban and rural populations. “The only division we have in society is the exploited and the exploiter,” April emphasized. This philosophy informs the party’s efforts to unite workers across geographical and occupational divides.
The party also confronts social prejudices that undermine solidarity. Anti-immigrant sentiment, for instance, distracts from systemic issues like corporate greed and government mismanagement. “You’re worried about the wrong crowd,” April remarked. “What you need to fear are multinationals and vulture funds.” By exposing the contradictions of right-wing rhetoric, the Roots Party aims to redirect public anger towards the true sources of inequality.
A critical point April emphasized is the cyclical nature of reactionary politics. She warned of how groups historically targeted by right-wing movements—including travelers, single mothers, and individuals from council estates—are now being weaponized against refugees, LGBTQ+ communities, and leftist activists. “The same groups that were demonized years ago are now being used to fuel division against others,” she explained, cautioning that these groups could be next in line if reactionary forces gain power. Drawing on historical parallels, she invoked the famous Nazi-era poem by pastor Martin Niemöller, “First they came …,” highlighting the danger of complacency. This serves as a stark reminder that unity across social divides is essential to resisting oppressive systems.
The Roots Party acknowledges internal challenges within leftist politics, particularly issues of elitism and gatekeeping. “A huge amount of people who have some interest in socialist politics are constantly turned away because they don’t fit a certain mold,” April noted. These barriers alienate the very working-class communities that leftist movements aim to represent. “We would echo PBP’s call for a left alliance but that needs to be done now and be reflected in our organising. For too long left groups & parties have been robbing members off of each other instead of recruiting directly from the working class and that can’t go on. We need to be somewhat united & be actively growing in order to be able to weather the coming storms,” she says.
The Roots Party’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in its outreach efforts, which prioritize dialogue over ideological purity. By engaging with individuals across the political spectrum, the party has successfully converted former right-wing supporters to its cause. “The biggest message I would have is anyone who is working in an activist way is to be correct. If you’re right, the facts will stand themselves. And if you keep arguing, the facts will stand for themselves,” April said, stressing the importance of integrity and patience in political organizing.
The Roots Party’s approach to systemic change is pragmatic, embracing both reformist and revolutionary strategies. “If reform works, great. If not, we should also be prepared for the eventuality that it doesn’t,” April explained. This focus prioritizes building grassroots structures, such as dual-power systems, that can operate independently of the state while preparing communities for potential resistance if reform fails.
For students and young people, the Roots Party’s message is clear: solidarity is the path to a just society. “If you’re from an urban area or a rural area, if you’re working class, you’re closer to each other than to those you’re idolizing,” April asserted, referring to the way people look up to the rich, politicians and the elite. By rejecting divisions and embracing collective action, Ireland’s youth can play a pivotal role in shaping a future rooted in equality and sustainability.
As the Roots Party continues to grow, its vision of agrarian syndicalism offers a compelling alternative to the status quo. Whether through reform or revolution, the party is steadfast in its mission to empower communities and challenge systemic injustices. With its focus on grassroots organizing, pragmatic policy solutions, and unwavering commitment to inclusivity, the Roots Party represents a beacon of hope for Ireland’s marginalized populations.
