Community Led Socialism

Community Activist
Ógra Shinn Féin

To achieve a 32 County Democratic Socialist Republic. That is what Ógra Shinn Féin stands for and as activists that is what we are fighting and struggling to achieve.



Ógra Shinn Féin believes in building a free Ireland, one which holds equality as a cornerstone and works to empower all citizens.

The Irish people live in communities, as a society we are organised in communities and so if we are to build an alternative, to be truly involved in nation building, we as young republicans need to play an integral part in our local community.

There are all manner of different organisations set up in local areas, from community groups to tenants associations and I would encourage everyone to join their local group and where non presently exist, explore the possibility of setting one up.

In this stage in our struggle, we need to be engaged in community engagement, their struggle is our struggle.

We need to continue the proud legacy of being at the coalface of community politics and empowering the people.

Bobby Sands always articulated a strong community spirit, in the most recent book wrote about him, ‘Nothing but an Unfinished Song’ it says:

“In line with his optimistic populism, Bobby proposed that Sinn Féin should rename itself ‘Sinn Féin – The Peoples Party.’ He even put the new party name on the masthead of Liberty. His choice of ‘people’s party’ instead of ‘worker’s party’ reflected the political awareness he had achieved in jail. He continually talked about street communities and popular politics. He tried to bring young people, women and the elderly into the movement. His broad definition of ‘the community’ showed that he was quite aware of the social structure of Twinbrook: with such high unemployment, most people were hardly ‘workers’ in the traditional Marxian sense. Nor were housewives or young students ‘workers’ in that sense. In his identification of ‘the community’ and ‘the people’ Bobby was articulating the kind of movement that social scientists have only recently recognised as ‘identity movements.’”

If you agree with the assertion,

“To be a student and not a revolutionary is a contradiction in terms.”

Equally I would argue that,

“To be a Republican and not a community activist is a contradiction in terms.”

We only have to look at the areas in which Sinn Féin are strong, and although there are a few factors in this, a strong community organisation is evident.

So if you are a Republican activist, if you want to achieve the Socialist Republic, don’t just sit around talking about Socialism all day – get involved!

Play your part in your community group, together we can build a Socialist Republic!