However, the ISRP had lost many members following internal disputes, with some forming the rival Irish Socialist Labour Party (ISLP).
Connolly was chosen as its national organiser, while Francis Sheehy-Skeffington became president, Michael Mallin was secretary, and William O'Brien was also elected to the executive.
[5] But even O'Shannon spoke about pursuing both political and military action to enable a workers' revolution, and welcomed the formation of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).
To build links with the Bolsheviks, both factions in the SPI claimed that the party had played a significant role in the Irish War of Independence.
[4][5] Liam O'Flaherty and George Pollock also came to prominence, while O'Brien and O'Shannon were expelled in October,[2][4] at the same time as the group renamed itself as the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI).
In December, Nora Connolly and Eamonn MacAlpine were suspended and formed the rival Communist Groups, focusing more heavily on links with the IRA.
[4] The British Special Branch concluded that Connolly had visited Moscow on more than one occasion, and that the party was receiving a subsidy from the Comintern.