Dublin kicks-off 2011 with Leinster House Launch

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin members and supporters gathered in Leinster House on the 21st January to strategise for 2011. The event which was attended by Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD was held in government buildings to coincide with the anniversary of the First Dáil Éireann in 1919. Dozens of young people attended the event which gave way to lots of discussion of Ógra's activism in 2010 and what lies ahead for 2011.

The Launch Night which started at 18.30 was a huge success. Ógra Shinn Féin Átha Cliath spokesperson Daithi Byrne said;

"A lot of work was put into this event by very dedicated young people in the organisation. Young people attended the event and were impressed with the presentation of 2010 activities including the protests and demonstrations against the handover of sovereignty to the IMF and EU. Young people who were not necessarily political have become interested in developments in the state, especially the disastrous handling of the crisis by the Fianna Fáil/Green Party government. Those who attended last night that weren't Ógra members were encouraged to join Ógra Shinn Féin due to the need to provide a radical alternative aiming to change Irish society to a situation which reflects the ideals of the 1916 proclamation; equality, justice, peace and freedom. Discussions and meetings are taking place all over the country about how to bring young people into the heart of the republican project - now is the time to join Ógra in the community, join Sinn Féin in the college. This is easy to do and there is no better time to do it."

Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD sponsored the Launch Night and was glad to see young people from all over Dublin on their visit to the event in Leinster House. Colm Ó Mordha, Dublin Ógra Chairperson said;

"I'm happy to see young people attend this event and getting involved in Sinn Féin's alternative. Tonight is symbolic in that this event coincides with the first anniversary of the 1919 An Chead Dáil Éireann, which saw Sinn Féin dramatically swept to power in an overall majority vote by the Irish people in the 1918 election. The fightback has begun with the 2011 General Election called for early March. Sinn Féin are about reversing the devastating policies of both Fianna Fáil and the Greens. Young people have always been at the heart of the republican project from the very beginning. Now is the best time for youth to get political, get involved and join Sinn Féin to bring about the alternatives which Ireland needs."

Deputy Ó Snodaigh thanked Dublin Ógra's team for its hard work over the years, especially in 2010 and congratulated its hard-working members with their well designed website launch and professional video which is being distrusted on major social networks.

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin unveiled its online presence last night by launching its Facebook page, its website and a professionally produced video. Young people are encouraged to visit the website and spread the word on its foundation. The web addresses are dublinogra.com, facebook.com/dublinogra and youtube.com/dublinogra.

Dublin Ógra delegation visit Catalonia

Ógra Shinn Féin sent a delegation to attend Acamapda Jove, a festival organised by JERC in Catalonia from 15th to 17th of July. JERC (Left Republican Catalan Youth) is the youth wing of Esquerra Republicana. The festival, which is attended by tens of thousands of young Catalonians each year and features many popular bands such as Skatala and Banda Basotti. The most prominent theme of the event was indepedence, aswell as anti-facism, equality and internationalism.

A number of political acts were held over the weekend of events, including the signing of the Declaration of Montblanc, which Daithi Byrne from Dublin signed on behalf of Ógra Shinn Féin. The main points of the declaration were;

• We show our support for the Independentist Youth, which is currently leading the independentist movement in the Catalan Countries.

• We express our support for the People's Initiative to hold a referendum in the Principality of Catalonia that will be carried out in the coming months.

• We demand that the Spanish and French States take the commitment to resolve the political conflict experienced by the Catalan Countries through democratic means and by recognising the right of self-determination of peoples.

• We reaffirm our commitment, support and solidarity amongst the different Nations without State that want to exercise their right to self determination.
  
  

The first Acampada Jove fifteen years ago had two-hundred attendees, but this year it attracted thirty thousand-people thronged to the event located in Montblanc, a medieval town about an hour from Barcelona. The event is one of the most successful projects of the Catalan countries, and results from the collaboration of all young indepedendists. This year, the festival came on the heels of one of the most interesting political contexts in recent times for Catalonia. Throughout 2010, over half a million citizens have been able to excercise their right to decide on their political future in 463 municipalities of the Catalan countries. Daithi Byrne, who attended on behalf of Ógra Shinn Féin said;

"It is an honour to be invited to represent Ógra Shinn Féin at Acampada Jove, only a week after approximately two-million people marched through Barcelona to voice their desire for the self-determination of Catalonia. From the first day of the event I was told of the unfortunate situation that the Spanish Government decided there was no legal basis for recognising Catalonia as a nation, and ruled against Catalan taking precedence over Spanish, therefore preventing children in schools from being taught the native language. The festival itself was fascinating, succeeding as a result of the mixture of music and the desire for Catalonian independence. The crowds which attended the weekend of events were all young and mostly political, and many existing similarities could be seen between JERC and Ógra Shinn Féin, especially the dedication of young activists to suceed in community projects. I think these trips are hugely beneficial not only because of the strong historicial ties between JERC, SEGI, Ógra and others, but also because of the new people one meets, such as the delegates from the YSI (Young Scots for Independence), Gazte Abertzaleak from the Basque country and Darreu from Asturias. I was approached by countless young independists who declared their support for Sinn Féin and its efforts to achieve a united Ireland, as well as the recent Ógra campaign 'Who fears to speak of a united Ireland?'.

Dublin Ógra commemorate Asgard landing at Howth

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin activists travelled to Howth on Saturday to take part in a day of activities to commemorate the Howth gun-running of 1914.

The significant milestone in Irish history was in response to the arming of the Ulster Volunteers. The weapons, from Hamburg in Germany were to be used to to arm the Irish Volunteers in the run up to the 1916 rising. Nine hundred Mauser rifles 29,000 rounds of ammunition were to prove pivotal in the events of Easter Week.

Dublin Ógra activists from across the county arrived in Howth in the afternoon. Donning replica Irish Volunteers uniforms, they distributed leaflets in English, Irish, Spanish and Polish to the many locals and tourists who had gathered to watch the commemoration take place. After the distribution of thousands of leaflets and the arrival of the Dublin Republican Flute Band, the crowd marched along the East Pier in Howth to the very spot where the Asgard unloaded the arsenal of German weapons on the 26th July, 1914.
The Irish Volunteers were founded after the Tory Party in England joined with the Unionists in North-East Ireland in an armed conspiracy to prevent legislative Home Rule for Ireland. When the First World War broke out at the time of the Howth gun-running Home Rule was postponed.

The skipper of the Asgard was Erskine Childers who later worked for Dáil Éireann and took part in the Treaty negotiations in 1921. He opposed the Treaty and the Partition of Ireland and was executed in 1922 by the Free State government during the Irish Civil War.
When the guns were landed on that day in 1914 they were taken back to Dublin City by the Irish Volunteers. The British Army fired on a crowd of civilians in the city, killing three of them. Every year Ógra Sinn Féin in Dublin commemorates the Asgard landing in celebration of the spirit of Irish freedom, in support of the demand for Irish unity and in remembrance of those who died.

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin spearhead anti-government demonstration

Dozens of activists from Ógra Shinn Féin piloted a massive protest against the twenty-six county government yesterday. The protest was organised by the Right to Work Campaign and consists of trade unions and political parties and organisations. Ógra activists from Dublin and across the country assembled at the Anglo-Irish bank HQ where the angry procession was for a short time, blocked by Gardaí, some of which were on horseback.

Demonstrators made their way to Leinster House to join about one hundred Sinn Féin members and in all, protestors numbered about three thousand. A number of speakers including Senator Pearse Doherty and artist Robert Ballagh expressed their anger and disgust at government policy aimed at bailing out banks, decimating jobs and prioritising wealthy elites.
Criticising government policies which have led to a jobs massacre, Senator Pearse Doherty said; “We in Sinn Féin were the only party to have produced costed and comprehensive proposals for getting Ireland back to work. We have produced proposals which would see 50,000 young people off the dole and into employment or education. Sinn Féin is leading the way in terms of bringing about positive proposals for job creation and getting people off the dole, back from the brink of emigration and back to work. “Ordinary people have had enough. We deserve to work. We have a right to decent public services like health and education. We will not stand idly by while unemployment gets progressively worse. We will not stand for attacks on the most vulnerable. We will not accept the agenda of cuts as laid down by this government and other right wing parties such as Fine Gael who offer no real alternative. “Let’s get on the streets, stay on the streets and send a message to this government – jobs for the unemployed now.” Ógra Shinn Féin are calling on all activists and supporters from across the country to attend next weeks demonstration on Tuesday evening at Leinster House.




To contact Dublin Ógra; 0851754158
Sinn Féin 'Jobs for the Unemployed' website: http://www.sinnfein.ie/jobs-for-the-unemployed

Solidarity With Basque Trade Unionists And Political Activists

Ógra Shinn Féin activists from across the country joined a protest organised by Dublin Ógra and the Dublin Basque Solidarity Campaign. This is one of a series of demonstrations attended by Ógra members over the course of 2009 with more activity expected on the issue.

North Leinster activist Ross Taylor, who has visited the Basque country several times said; "We are here today to show solidarity with the 37,000 people who marched behind the Basque trade union banner in Donostia. Oppression in the Basque country is not heard of in the media. We will continue to do what we can to highlight this and stand shoulder to shoulder with Basque comrades."

Participants distributed leaflets and with Irish and Basque flags carried large placards with slogans including: “ End the repression of Basque’s: Freedom of Expression! Freedom of the Press and Radio! Freedom of Assembly!” “Spanish Police Torture Detainees!” “765 Political Prisoners Spread Over Britain and France!” “Jon Anza – ‘disappeared’ since April 2009 – what have you done with him?” “Hands Off the Basque Trade Unions!” “Hands Off the Belfast Basques!”


Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin's weekly stall at the GPO highlights the plight of the Basque people with leaflets and information about Ógra's activism.

Onwards and upwards for Dublin ÓSF

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin are set to become the most active society in Dublin's universities. Hundreds of new applications to join were made over the last month at freshers events. Ógra Shinn Féin socities were represented in the following unversities;

• Trinity College
• University College Dublin
• Dublin City University
• Griffith College
• Dublin Institute of Technology

Sinn Féin flags were hoisted and freshers packs handed out to applicants who signed up in their droves. A high quality newsletter, DVD on the history of the republican struggle, stationery and a copy of the proclamation were included in the packs. Application figures have surged since last year, signalling a rise in political awareness among students opposed to fees and other policies introduced by the shambolic government. Asked about the attraction to Ógra Shinn Féin, one student stated that she wanted to be active in the campaign against fees and the general ineptitude of the Fianna Fáil/Greens. Another student stated that Ógra Fianna Fáil were "ran like dogs" from a freshers event in DCU. Ógra activist Daithí Byrne commented on the surge in applicants;

"Students are saying they attracted to our radical politics and activism displayed over the years in Dublin, most recently the anti-fees campaign. They aren't satisfied with the 'all talk no action' policy of other opposition groups like Young Fine Gael."

Paddy Daly, Dublin college co-ordinator commented on the successful freshers campaign; "This has been a huge success for us with people genuinely interested in getting involved in republican politics and activism. The priority for me will be to build a new college structure for Dublin ÓSF and organise events such as protests that will put us on the map."

After a spectacular freshers recruitment drive, Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin are putting education/introduction to Sinn Féin high on the agenda, which will include one to one meetings with each applicant. Anti-fees will also be high on the agenda for the coming weeks.

To contact Dublin ÓSF: dublinogra@gmail.com

Dublin Ógra join community sector demo

Around 15,000 people took part in a protest against cutbacks in the community sector. Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin activists arrived early with flags, placards and leaflets.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Vice President Mary Lou McDonald were also in attendance.

The ‘Communities against Cuts’ campaign represents thousands of workers providing essential services to children, the elderly, disabled, recovering drug addicts, travellers, young people and women in the country’s most disadvantaged areas. Government cut backs have already seen the closure of community development projects and the McCarthy report proposals, if implemented, will result in the loss of a further 6,500 jobs in the Community sector.

Ógra Atha Cliath spokesperson Mick Farrell said; "The community groups who benefited least from the Celtic Tiger are paying the price for the government's failed policy of profit over people."

Some of the groups suffering from cuts include Drug Task Force groups, CDPs and community service programmes.