Gender Equality Officer
Uladh Ógra Shinn Féin
To continue the women in struggle interviews, I sat down with the ever present and an up and coming activist of Ógra Shinn Féin Laura Gildernew. Laura, who hails from Tullysaran, County Armagh (although she considers herself a proud Tyrone women), is a 17 year old A Level student at St Catherines, Armagh.
With a family steeped in republicanism, who led during the civil rights to leading in the Northern Assembly, the Gildernew clan, continue to provide proud and confident activists of the future as evident through Laura.
Laura speaks about her family, inspiration and aspirations for the future.
How did you get interested in politics?
I got interested in politics from hearing stories from my family about the conflict and my interest developed when I entered secondary school and I began to learn more about the history of Ireland.
Were you involved in politics before getting involved in Ógra?
Yes, I have only been involved with Ógra for a short period of time, (something which I regret) but I have been active within Sinn Fein for a number of years, helping out with canvassing and selling ‘An Phoblacht’ and then eventually joining my local cumann in the Brantry.
How did you find out or know about Ógra Shinn Fein?
I found out about Ógra Shinn Féin from being at other Sinn Féin meetings and hearing about the many activities that Ógra were involved in, so I decided to attend one of the republican youth weekends in Derry.
Has your interest in politics come your family influence? And How?
Yes very much so. My family on both parent’s sides have always been very much involved in republican politics because they, like many other nationalists, were unwilling to accept the cruel tyranny of British rule and unionist misrule.
From my great grandmother’s uncle who was on the run from the Black & Tans till he was brutally murdered by them and on many other occasions through the years including my father’s family’s stand against discrimination and repression which culminated in the Squatting in Caledon. This has certainly influenced my decision to become involved in politics.
What would you be doing if you weren’t involved in Ógra?
If I weren’t involved in Ógra, I would probably still be involved in Sinn Féin, but I would be missing out!
What actions have Ógra taken in your area (weekend’s, protests, etc)
Ógra have been very active in my area in opposing the current slaughter of hundreds of Palestinian civilians by engaging in many protests, candle lit vigils and boycotts of Israeli products. We have also been active on ‘Free all IRA prisoners’ campaign.
What do you like most about Ógra Shinn Féin?
I like Ógra Shinn Féin because they are the most active youth wing of any political party in Ireland; they campaign on issues which affect us in our day to day lives, issues which matter to the communities we live in. Ógra Shinn Féin is also a way in which young likeminded individuals can come together, share their ideas, debate and socialise.
Have you any major achievements within Ógra or things that you will remember for a long time to come?
I recently got elected onto the Cúige Uladh Ógra Shinn Féin officer board this I something which I know I will remember and I hope to do the role justice! :)
What do you enjoy doing outside of Politics?
I enjoy playing Gaelic football, Irish dancing and socialising with my friends.
I enjoy playing Gaelic football, Irish dancing and socialising with my friends.
How do you think you make politics relevant to young people and what are the major pressing issues for young people?
I think to make politics relevant to young people you have to get them involved, Ógra Shinn Féin are especially relevant to young people as they campaign on issues which have a direct effect on their everyday lives, issues such as suicide and drugs and alcohol awareness are relevant to young people. I also think issues like education fees and the rising price of living are pressing issues for young people.
If there was one issue you could get young people active on, what would it be?
If there was one issue which I could get young people active on it would be the issue of road safety.
What issue is your cumann active on currently?
My local Cumann is currently active on the issue of the broadband availability in rural areas. We are also active on the ‘No Pylons Here’ campaign, which aims to change proposals to erect huge pylons with extremely dangerous high Voltage cables in our area. We accept the need for and indeed the desirability of an all Ireland Electricity network but intend to move the High Voltage Cables underground where they will present less of a health hazard to people and wildlife and reduce the environmental impact of these eyesores.
Who has been a role model for you politically?
My father has been a role model for me politically and also Eibhlinn Glenhomes.
What female has most influenced you?
I think to make politics relevant to young people you have to get them involved, Ógra Shinn Féin are especially relevant to young people as they campaign on issues which have a direct effect on their everyday lives, issues such as suicide and drugs and alcohol awareness are relevant to young people. I also think issues like education fees and the rising price of living are pressing issues for young people.
If there was one issue you could get young people active on, what would it be?
If there was one issue which I could get young people active on it would be the issue of road safety.
What issue is your cumann active on currently?
My local Cumann is currently active on the issue of the broadband availability in rural areas. We are also active on the ‘No Pylons Here’ campaign, which aims to change proposals to erect huge pylons with extremely dangerous high Voltage cables in our area. We accept the need for and indeed the desirability of an all Ireland Electricity network but intend to move the High Voltage Cables underground where they will present less of a health hazard to people and wildlife and reduce the environmental impact of these eyesores.
Who has been a role model for you politically?
My father has been a role model for me politically and also Eibhlinn Glenhomes.
What female has most influenced you?
Both Mairead Farrell and my Great Grandmother have influenced me greatly.
Quickfire Round
Favourite Food: Chicken
Favourite Drink: Orange Juice
Favourite Music / Artist: Irish rebel and Traditional, Cara Dillon, R ‘n’ B
Favourite songs: The Ballad of Mairead Farrell, Bette Davis Eyes, Sex on Fire, Human
Favourite Films: H3, The wind that shakes the barley, Dirty dancing, Des Bishop - Tongues
Favourite Drink: Orange Juice
Favourite Music / Artist: Irish rebel and Traditional, Cara Dillon, R ‘n’ B
Favourite songs: The Ballad of Mairead Farrell, Bette Davis Eyes, Sex on Fire, Human
Favourite Films: H3, The wind that shakes the barley, Dirty dancing, Des Bishop - Tongues
Favourite Books: Bobby Sands’ Prison Poems, On The Verge, Tim Pat Coogan - The IRA
Favourite Holiday resort: Boston USA
Person most influential in your life: My Parents
Favourite Holiday resort: Boston USA
Person most influential in your life: My Parents
Person you would like to meet (living) Fidel Castro
Person you would like to meet (deceased) Rosa Parks or Mairead Farrell
If you were President of Ireland or Taoiseach what 3 things would, you do to change Ireland?
-I would eliminate any chance of there being a re-run of the Lisbon Treaty.
-I would change the way that the Irish language is taught in our schools.
-I would officially recognise the contribution and sacrifice that Republican men and women have made during the struggle for Irish Unity and Freedom.
-I would eliminate any chance of there being a re-run of the Lisbon Treaty.
-I would change the way that the Irish language is taught in our schools.
-I would officially recognise the contribution and sacrifice that Republican men and women have made during the struggle for Irish Unity and Freedom.
11 comments:
Good initiative and good interview from Laura. Can I suggest for the next interview one of our female comrades from the 26 counties, maybe from Galway or one of the girls from Trinity or UCD. I feel the interviews to date have been very northern focussed.
Brilliant interview. Agree, with ever present, shes everywhere, hreat activist ;)
Joe
Maith thú Laura.
Shauna
Yea that is a role for the new national gender equality/P.R.O to take on or even the other cuigi. To date it is just been uladh who has carried out these interviews. But no doubt that will be changed this year.
The role of the uladh gender equality officer is obviously to promote women in that geographic area, so well done to Gemma on that.
But before Gemma took the initiative for interviews a number have been conducted with female comrades from the 23 counties.
I look forward to the soon to be elected national gender equality officer to build on the brilliant work by Gemma in Uladh.
And btw, brilliant interview Laura.
Glad to see Osama is in there as an inspiration ;)
Barra
Perhaps then it is something that other cuigí could mirror because despite being a great initiative a good geographical spread is badly needed to cut that image of ógra as a six county thing which to be fair I think it has very much become.
nothing against the interviews to date as they've been great but it's something that needs to be addressed and is particularly prevalent in Ógra.
Thanks Barra :) of course Osama is an inspiration ;)
Laura.
"is badly needed to cut that image of ógra as a six county thing which to be fair I think it has very much become"
To anonymous,
While I know your being constructive a chara, theres a sneeping poor second cousin attitude creeping in there.
Too often activists in the 26 complain and moan about the strength of the north, when activists get over this nonsense and focus on the job at hand, they excel and make up lost ground and challenge the north in terms of activism and recruitment. Just look at Munster in the last while,there flying from the Congress.
I take your point, but we all collectively need to address these things, it won't be done by moaning, or quiet reflection, but by hard work.
done blame the north for doing good work, use them as a model of best practice and just do it.
John
Laura is a legend and a great addition to Ógra.
This is the gospel of Hector.
The gospel according to hector!! :D lol.
What is attitute to informers for the British Government snitching at a local level in the Brantry? You don't have to go too far from home for information about it Laura!!
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