James Stewart (Irish politician)

James Stewart

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland
In office
1984–2001
Preceded by| Michael O'Riordan
Succeeded by| Eugene McCartan
National Chairperson of the Communist Party of Ireland
In office
2001–2004
Preceded by| Eugene McCartan
Succeeded by| Lynda Walker
Personal details
Born| (1934-11-23)23 November 1934
Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Died| 26 January 2013(2013-01-26) (aged 78)
Political party| Communist Party of Ireland (from 1970)
Other political
affiliations| Communist Party of Northern Ireland (1955-1970)
Spouse| Edwina Stewart
Education| Stranmillis University College

James Stewart (23 November 1934 – 26 January 2013), known as Jimmy Stewart, was an activist from Northern Ireland.

Stewart was born in Ballymena to a Protestant family, and studied at the Ballymena Academy.[1] He became a Queen's Scout and took an interest in his Scottish heritage. He trained as a teacher at Stranmillis University College, and there met active communist Edwina Menzies, the two marrying in 1954.[2]

In 1955, Stewart joined the Communist Party of Northern Ireland, initially while teaching at Hemsworth Square School and then Somerdale School on the Shankill Road. He and Menzies attended the World Youth Festival in 1957,[2] and in the same year he became general secretary of the party's youth section.[3] He rapidly became a key figure in the party, editing Unity, its newspaper, completing the drafting of the party's programme, Ireland's Path to Socialism,[2] and becoming its Deputy General Secretary in 1964.[3]

The Communist Party of Northern Ireland merged into the Communist Party of Ireland in 1970, and Stewart left teaching to become a full-time party worker, remaining Deputy General Secretary of the new group.[3] In this role, he was active in the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, Belfast Trades Council.

He stood in the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election in Belfast West, but took last place with only 123 votes,[4] and came bottom of the poll for Belfast City Council at the 1977, 1981 and 1985 local elections.[5][6]

Stewart rose to become general secretary of the party in 1984, serving until 2001, when he instead became its chairman.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Top Irish communist Jimmy Stewart dies". Belfast Telegraph. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
2. ^ a b c Walker, Lynda (25 February 2013). "Obituary James Stewart: Always working for unity". Morning Star. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
3. ^ a b c d "Stewart profile, Compendium of Communist Biography; accessed 16 May 2016.
4. ^ Whyte, Nicholas (25 March 2003). "West Belfast 1973-82". ARK. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
5. ^ Damkat, Ivo (29 October 2003). "The Local Government Elections 1973-1981: Belfast". ARK. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
6. ^ Vaes, Tineke (28 May 2003). "Local Government Elections 1985 - 1989: Belfast". ARK. Retrieved 13 January 2025.

Party political offices

Preceded by

Michael O'Riordan

|  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland
1984–2001  | Succeeded by

Eugene McCartan

Preceded by

Eugene McCartan

|  National Chairperson of the Communist Party of Ireland
2001–2004  | Succeeded by

Lynda Walker