The Week at Work

The Week at Work

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The Week at Work episodes

  • 157. The Many Myths of C. Desmond Greaves

    This week Conor and Dave look at C. Desmond Greaves' biography of James Connolly, in particular the poetic license and myth-making that Greaves indulged in when filling in the gaps in Connolly's early days. It focuses on the account Greaves gave of Connolly's army career, and the issues with the sources used and story told. This episode was recorded in the Garden of Remembrance one Friday afternoon.

    50 min
  • 156. Dublin Institutional Landlords & the Research of Pierce Daly

    This week Conor McCabe and Aubrey Robinson discuss a recent paper by Pierce Daly (UCD) which mapped the location and intensity of institutional/corporate investment in the Dublin rental market. It is a rare example of detailed empirical analysis on the issue and we felt it deserved a discussion and analysis in itself. Link to the paper is below, along with one by Daniela Gabor and Sebastian Kohl which is referenced by Aubrey during the show.


    Pierce Daly. Institutional Investment in Housing: Financialisation 2.0 in the Case of Ireland - https://shorturl.at/IOWZ4

    Daniela Gabor and Sebastian Kohl. My Home is an Asset Class - https://shorturl.at/goHTU

    41 min
  • 155. Class and Capitalism in Rural Ireland

    This week, guest Saoirse McHugh and Conor McCabe discuss the dynamics of class and capitalism in so-called 'rural' Ireland; the feebleness of the institutional Irish left (political parties, trade unions, research bodies) in dealing with these dynamics; and the rising threat of the far-right as it elbows its way into the vacuum. Recorded during a climate action march in Dublin on 9 December 2023.

    47 min
  • 154. Palestine, the Ditch and Data Centres

    This week Glenn and Michelle discuss:

    • Truce in Palestine ended, Israeli bombardment restarted
    • Role of mainstream media
    • Division in our communities - rise of hate and the question of 'resources'
    • Mary Lou tweet
    • Rents reaching new records
    • The Ditch investigations
    • Data centres and COP
    • Successes in the BDS campaign
      • 45 min
    • 153. Knife attack on Parnell Square and the Dublin riots

      This week Dave, Clare and Michelle discuss:

      • The Parnell Square knife attack
      • Dublin violence & classism
      • Policing - water cannons, Facial recognition technology
      • ICTU rally
      • Palestine so-called 4 day pause in firing
      • Surge in munition exemptions undermining our neutrality
      • Attempts to scrapping the triple lock
      • AIB applying banking sanctions?
      • Homeless numbers record broken again
      • AirBnb profits
      • Mayo council execs as landlords
      • Mechanical workers win big after strike threat
        • 55 min
      • 152. Israel's continued genocide in Palestine & this weeks news

        In this weeks episode Dave and Michelle discuss the

        continued genocide in Palestine including: 

        • Israel bombing boats in Gaza to starve population
        • Israel’s Heritage Minister suggests nuking Gaza and sending civilians
          • to Ireland
        • Doctors in Israel call for continued targeting of hospitals
        • WCNSF acronym - child with no remaining family left
        • Irish citizens in Gaza prevented from leaving
        • SF call to expel the Israeli ambassador
        • Silencing dissent - Web Summit, Amazon, Pharma, Gofundme and
          • Wix
        • Football community politics
        • Sunday indo poll on ceasefire
        • Artist boycott
        • 600+ academics calling on unis to suspend ties with Israeli
          • institutions
        • Role of media

          • Also discussed:

          • European far right in in Kilkenny
          • Intel is Hell
          • Garment workers strike in Bangladesh
          • Scrapping air passenger cap
          • Traveller homes
          • Household media charge
          • Gardai propaganda
          • Good IRA v Bad IRA

            • If you want to support us you can do so at www.patreon.com/leftbloc

            1 hr 6 min
          • 149. Budget 2024 Special

            Dave Gibney and Clare O'Connor are joined by Conor McCabe as we look at Budget 2024 and what the main opposition parties would have done differently. We address housing, health, education, climate, taxation and carers, among other items.

            1 hr 3 min

          About The Week at Work

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          Reviewing the weekly news and how those stories impact on workers.