The re-conquest of Ireland as envisioned by James Connolly was a revolutionary project to reclaim Ireland not just from British colonial rule but from capitalist exploitation. Connolly, a Marxist and leader of the Irish labor movement, argued that true Irish independence required the establishment of a socialist republic. He believed that political freedom without economic emancipation would leave Ireland dominated by native capitalists, merely replacing foreign oppressors with domestic ones.

Connolly tied Ireland's liberation to the working class, asserting that they alone could bring about a society based on equality and solidarity. His vision of re-conquest included nationalizing resources, abolishing private ownership of land, and building a classless society. He saw the fight for Irish freedom and socialism as inseparable, encapsulated in his leadership of the Irish Citizen Army, which united workers and nationalists in armed struggle.

Connolly's ideals came to prominence during the Easter Rising of 1916, where he and his comrades sought to ignite a revolution. Although the rebellion was suppressed, and Connolly was executed, his vision for a socialist Ireland remains influential in Irish political thought. For Connolly, the re-conquest of Ireland was not simply about reclaiming territory but about creating a just and equitable society free from oppression.