It is only when you see a complete set of Saothar, which first appeared on May Day 1975, sitting on a library shelf that you appreciate what an achievement for the Irish Labour History Society (ILHS) the journal is. This is remarkable given the almost total absence of any academic base for the subject in 1975. It is even more remarkable when the continuing narrowness - perhaps even the narrowing - of that base is considered. These days, following the ‘collapse of socialism’ and ‘end of history’, labour history studies are fast disappearing from third level institutions. The strength of the ILHS, and therefore its journal, has never been reliant on academia however. There has been strong support, no strings attached, from the labour movement. This is reflected in the unique image of the journal with its ‘fraternal’ advertisements from trade unions.

 The Irish Labour History Society aims to preserve the records and reminiscences, written and oral, of the Irish working class and its organisations. Society membership is composed of individuals, labour-related organisations, academic institutions, libraries and archival bodies. The Society frequently organizes conferences and events and also issues publications on Irish labour, including its annual journal Saothar.