I found myself wondering: If the Rebellion had been successful which flag would have flown over Dublin Castle, socialist or capitalist?
Connolly was fighting for the working class, who had been through the starvation of the Lockout and the hardships of everyday living in the worst slums in Europe.
Most of the leaders in Pearse’s Volunteers were relatively wealthy, with big houses and servants.
You could say Connolly’s aspirations were written out of history, like the majority of the women who took part in the Rising.
Socialism is still frowned on in Ireland and capitalism is alive and kicking: could there be more exploitation of workers, employers pushing for zero-hour contracts, minimum wage and flexi-hours? Far too many positions are part-time, forcing workers to take multiple jobs to make ends meet. This keeps them so busy they don’t have the time to organize against these abusive conditions.
What would Connolly think of today’s trade unions? Were they worth dying for?
ringsend1916 
very well said
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Enjoyed your article very well written
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I think it was worth James Connolly dying because in 1916 there were no trade unions and employees would have lost their job for trying to strike. At least now there are trade unions, where strikes can strike with the confidence of the possibility that their workplace could reform. If maybe trade unions are unfair and workers are still being mistreated, there is still time to reform and maybe in 50 years, the trade union would be fair and it would have been worth dying for then if it isn’t already now.
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