Cuige Uladh Organiser
Ógra Shinn Féin
2008 like every year for republicans has been a busy one. Political conditions north and south continue to change, and the circumstances in which we as young republicans find ourselves continue to change. But as always republicans continue to push our project forward, and I believe over the last year Ógra in Cúige Uladh has played it’s part in this.
We have continued to play an active role in our party across the Cúige, we have also continued to play our role in our local communities, attempting to bring the republican message out to young people and to make our politics relevant to them.
We did this through our active campaigning on issues like Drugs and Alcohol Awareness, through the recent NARC (Not Another Ravaged Community) Campaign. Cúige Uladh set the precedent through town centre vigils, stalls, murals and leaflet drops; as well as workshops ran in community centres and schools across the Cúige. Success in bringing this issue to the fore was commended by many in the general public including newspapers and experts in the fields of drug and alcohol awareness.
Ógra Uladh also played an active role in other campaigns like Shell to Sea and the demand for Acht na Gaeilge. With mobilisations traveling to Rossport to support the community there, and gathering in Belfast to march and demand rights for Irish speakers and the implementation of an Irish Language Act as agreed at St. Andrew’s. And today I take the opportunity, on behalf of Cúige Uladh to re-iterate our demand for an Irish Language Act. Sinn Féin continues to work to achieve this Act, but it is the British Government who must fulfill their commitments. Acht na Gaeilge Anois!
Our work for the Irish Language continued with the hosting of the first Ógra Shinn Féin Slogadh na nÓg in Dunlewy, in County Donegal. Activists, Learners and Gaeilgoirí from around the Country came to Donegal to learn, speak and enjoy the culture through the medium of Irish. The Cúige Cultural Officer played a key role in the organisation of this event, as did Ógra activists in Donegal; and I congratulate them and commend them for setting this precedent, and I look forward to Slogadh na nÓg 2009.
2008 also seen us increase our work on Gender Equality, and in recent months we have installed a new Gender Equality Officer and recently held the first in a series of planned Gender Equality Forums. These forums provide a venue for all to express their views on what we as a movement need to do relating to Gender Equality. I have no doubt these will grow in success in the new year ahead, and look forward to future campaigns relating to gender equality and recruitment of more young female activists.
Throughout the year we have had many successful political education weekends in Belfast, Derry and Strabane to name a few. We also hosted the National Youth Camp in Tí Chulainn, Mullabawn in South Armagh. Derry facilitated a youth weekend over the period of the Annual Hunger Strike March, and like Sinn Féin in the area should be commended for there role in organising the parade. Ógra was also proud to lead the parade on the day.
Between the 9-11 January we look forward to our next weekend “From Prisons to Politics”, in Newcastle, Co. Down; which will host are AGM. Always a successful event as we plan for the year ahead.
Currently we are re-structuring Ógra in Co. Down, with a new CC style structure in place, we have a lot of work ahead of us; but I have no doubt Down will continue to grow. We are also looking at potential new cumann in parts of Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Armagh and I am glad to welcome young republicans from those areas to our National Congress.
In Fermanagh itself Cúige Uladh played an active role in the recent Enniskillen by-election. Activists from neighbouring areas made many trips canvassing and campaigning; we also mobilised activists for a major town centre canvas in Enniskillen to help our candidate Debbie Coyle, who unfortunately just missed out, but delivered a fantastic Sinn Féin result.
Other actions across the Cúige, saw Uladh Campaigning against the Lisbon Treaty. Whether Youth Canvassing as we did in Monaghan, or protesting with town centre vigils and at Belfast City Hall, in the 6 Counties, that we as Irish Citizens weren’t even able to vote. I believe we made a positive impact in this campaign, and used the campaign to highlight much of the non-practicalities of partition.
Recent months have seen us campaigning heavily for the release of Long Kesh escapee Pól Brennan being detained in the US. Town Centre protests, vigils, leaflet drops, letters; including to the US Ambassador and Consulate; anything we could think of was done. Pól’s family has expressed their great thanks and gratitude to all of us for our efforts. We heard just at the beginning of the week that Pól had lost his deportation case. We will continue to stand by Pól in his battle to remain in the US over the time ahead.
Throughout the year we have had many successful political education weekends in Belfast, Derry and Strabane to name a few. We also hosted the National Youth Camp in Tí Chulainn, Mullabawn in South Armagh. Derry facilitated a youth weekend over the period of the Annual Hunger Strike March, and like Sinn Féin in the area should be commended for there role in organising the parade. Ógra was also proud to lead the parade on the day.
Between the 9-11 January we look forward to our next weekend “From Prisons to Politics”, in Newcastle, Co. Down; which will host are AGM. Always a successful event as we plan for the year ahead.
Currently we are re-structuring Ógra in Co. Down, with a new CC style structure in place, we have a lot of work ahead of us; but I have no doubt Down will continue to grow. We are also looking at potential new cumann in parts of Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Armagh and I am glad to welcome young republicans from those areas to our National Congress.
In Fermanagh itself Cúige Uladh played an active role in the recent Enniskillen by-election. Activists from neighbouring areas made many trips canvassing and campaigning; we also mobilised activists for a major town centre canvas in Enniskillen to help our candidate Debbie Coyle, who unfortunately just missed out, but delivered a fantastic Sinn Féin result.
Other actions across the Cúige, saw Uladh Campaigning against the Lisbon Treaty. Whether Youth Canvassing as we did in Monaghan, or protesting with town centre vigils and at Belfast City Hall, in the 6 Counties, that we as Irish Citizens weren’t even able to vote. I believe we made a positive impact in this campaign, and used the campaign to highlight much of the non-practicalities of partition.
Recent months have seen us campaigning heavily for the release of Long Kesh escapee Pól Brennan being detained in the US. Town Centre protests, vigils, leaflet drops, letters; including to the US Ambassador and Consulate; anything we could think of was done. Pól’s family has expressed their great thanks and gratitude to all of us for our efforts. We heard just at the beginning of the week that Pól had lost his deportation case. We will continue to stand by Pól in his battle to remain in the US over the time ahead.
Cúige Uladh Ógra has been involved in some very positive and good work in 2008. But 2009 is a new year with new challenges. We need to learn from 2008, and work even harder in 2009.
An Phoblacht Abú!
An Phoblacht Abú!
No comments:
Post a Comment