We are very sad to report that Rayner Lysaght, who you may recognise from our episode on the Limerick Soviet, has passed away at the age of 80.

To commemorate his passing we are sharing the complete, previously unreleased, interview with Rayner in 2019 about the Limerick Soviet and its lessons for today.

Rayner was a giant and a gent on the Irish socialist left and will be greatly missed by us all. Our thoughts go out to his loving wife Aine, brother William and sister Priscilla Stewart as well as all his loved ones. As his death notice says, quoting Trotsky: "“Life is beautiful. Let the future generations cleanse it of all evil, oppression, and violence, and enjoy it to the full.”

More resources

Previous episode on the Limerick Soviet: https://anchor.fm/ruptureradio/episodes/The-Limerick-Soviet-1919-w-Cian-Prendiville--Aprille-Scully-eu93kv

Obituary of Rayner: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rayner-lysaghtobituary-leading-activist-and-historian-in-the-labour-movement-and-a-hugely-influential-figure-in-irelands-left-wing-political-sphere-40638871.html

Rayner's pamphlet on the Limerick Soviet: https://libcom.org/library/1919-story-limerick-soviet

Video interview with Rayner about his life and ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iDStnCDBco