Seamus Costello - Political Activism

Political Activism

After his release, Costello worked to rebuild the republican movement, beginning by building a local base of support in County Wicklow as Sinn Féin's local organiser. Costello strongly supported the movement's left-wing orientation of these years - especially its emphasis on grassroots political activism. He helped found a strong tenants' association in Bray, and also became involved with the credit union movement and various farmers' organisations. During this period, he found time to marry a Tipperary woman, Maeliosa, who also became active in the republican movement. Costello stood for election to the Bray Urban District Council and the Wicklow county council in 1966 and was successful.

After the Troubles broke out in Northern Ireland in 1969, the IRA and Sinn Féin both split over abstentionism and the "left-wing" faction's "extreme socialism" politics. During the split of the Republican Movement into Official and Provisional movements in 1969, Costello remained with the Officials, due to their greater commitment to left wing politics. He served as Vice-President of Official Sinn Féin and as a staff officer in the Official IRA.

Costello was opposed to the 1972 ceasefire and he began to clash openly with the leadership and with Eoin O'Murchu. Costello was subjected to a court martial in 1974. Brigid Makowski, who was called to testify at his court martial in Mornington in County Louth, remarked that "Jesus could have testified on Costello's behalf and it wouldn't have changed the verdict." He was dismissed from OSF in 1974 after the OSF leadership blocked his supporters from attending the party convention.

He enjoyed considerable political support, being elected as chairman of Bray town council and topping the poll in his Bray county council constituency.