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From Irish Socialist, newspaper of the Communist Party of Ireland, in 1973:

"Béaloideas le Spailpín"

The article argues the derogatory use of spailpín arises from colonial English usage, and wage workers should see it as a noble term.

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Cé an ciall atá leis an bhfocal “spailpín”? Is é an brí atá leis ná, duine a bhíonn ag obair do fhostóir ar tuarastal, seachas bheith ag obair dó féin. Is obróir gach spailpín. Ach ní spailpín gach obróir. D'fhéadfadh le obróir bheith ag obair dó féin, mar shampla, feirmeoir, siopadóir, iascaire, &rl. Is obróiri iad siúd go léir. Ach an duine a thuileann tuarastal as bheith ag obair do fhostóir — duine eile, comhlucht gnó nó an stát — is spailpín é, nó í.  Níl aon fhocal sa Saics-Bhéarla atá díreach oiriúnach chun “spailpín” d'aistriú. Mar sin, nuair a bhí na Sasanaigh agus na tiarnaí talún i réim sa tír seo, bhí orthu an focal féin do thógaint isteach sa Saics-Bhéarla gan aon athrú sa bhfuaim. “Spalpeen” an litriú a chuireadar air. Agus toisc go raibh drocmheas acu ar na spailpíní a bhí hiarálta acu, labhradar an focal “spailpín” le tarcuisne. Agus tá an tarcuisne sin ceangailte leis go fóill i measc muintear na h-Éireann agus fiú amháin lucht labhartha na Gaeilge. Tá an brí seo ar spalpeen i “The Oxford Universal Dictionary” :  Spalpeen. Irish. 1780. [a. Ir. spailpín of unknown origin.] 1. A common workman or labourer; a farm worker or harvester. 2. A low or mean fellow; a scamp, a rascal 1815. 3. A youngster 1891.  Ní doigh liom go bhfuil iomlán den cheart i gceachtar den trí bhri sin. Ach is léir go mba mhaith leis na Sasanaigh bheith ag feacaint síos a srónacha ar an spailpín, pé bhrí a bhaineadar as an bhfocal. Ní cóir dúinn-ne in Éirinn glacadh le sin, agus ar chor ar bith ní cóir dúinn bheith ag féachaint cuigh Sasana nó cuig an Oxford Dictionary chun ár dteanga féin a mhúineadh dúinn. Is focal uasal é “spailpín”. Agus focal uasal ab' ea é sar ar dhein na Sasanaigh agus a lucht comhoibríochta in Éirinn truailliú air.  -Má theastaíonn uainn úsáid na Gaeilge do mhéadú agus do chur fé mheas, is deacair slí níos fearr d'fháil ná na focail breá Gaeilge a bhí ag ár sinsear do chur in usáid arís agus breis feidhm a bhaint astu. Is é ceann deis na príomh chuspóirí atá agus a bhí ag an nGasra Camanach i gcónaí ná, feabhas a chur ar chaighdeán maireachtála agus coinníolacha fhostaíochta na spailpíní (maraon le dreamanna eile). Agus chun é sin a dhéanamh, is riachtanach é go seasfaimís-ne spailpíní ar ár gcosa féin, go gcoimeádfaimís ár gcinn in áirde, agus go mbeadh meas againn ar nósanna, béasanna — agus teanga —ar sinsear. Ní ceart go mbeadh náire na eagla ar éinne a rá go h-oscailte : “Is spailpíní sinn agus is Camanaigh sin”.
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Here's a direct link to the article in Irish Socialist, No. 123: https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/view/3032/?page=3

View Document: Irish Socialist, No. 123 - Communist Party of Ireland

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