[3] On 8 April 1934, the founding conference of the Republican Congress party was held in Athlone, and a head office was established on Pearse Street in Dublin.

[3] During this time, those involved in the Republican Congress developed the concept of a "triple alliance" that would need to unite to advance the workers' cause in Ireland: A socialist Party, a paramilitary force and one big union.

The clash was given a sectarian element by the attack on 36 Congress members from the predominantly Loyalist parts of West Belfast – they formed the Shankill Road branch – who carried a banner reading, "Unite Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter to break the connection with Capitalism".

Following moderate success in agitating on behalf of the workers the Congress split at its first annual conference held in Rathmines Town Hall on September 8–9, 1934.

One side, which included the likes of Peadar O'Donnell,[5] Frank Ryan and George Gilmore[6] believed that a popular front of left-wing republicans could challenge the dominance of the mainstream political parties and form a "republic".

The opposing faction, which included Roddy Connolly[7] and Michael Price, believed that a political party should be formed in order to fight for a "workers' republic".