Uladh Ógra AGM sets out determined plan for year ahead

The mood was upbeat and determined as Ógra Shinn Féin Cuige Uladh assembled for their AGM. The meeting in Sevastopal Street, Belfast had delegates from every county across Uladh, who laid out an ambitious and realisable plan for the coming year, including continued recruitment, growth, and increased activity.

Following the election of a full officer board, the Sinn Féin representative on the Policing Board, Alex Maskey MLA, and former POW Bronwyn McGahan, who now chairs the Sinn Féin policing strategy group, where invited to the meeting to discuss the issue of transfer of policing and justice and to assist in dealing with recent cases of PSNI harassment of Ógra activists and young republicans.

Speaking on the meeting with Alex and Bronwyn, one of those recently harassed, Coalisland Ógra activist Padraig Quinn said,

“The engagement was extremely helpful with a number of positive recommendations and action points coming out of the meeting, ensuring young republicans are spearheading the campaign for change in policing, consigning political policing and petty harassment to the dustbin of history.”

Uladh organiser for Ógra Shinn Féin Fra Cochrane speaking on the wider meeting said,

“The meeting was extremely upbeat and everyone present representing their respective areas have been lifted by a successful year of upward growth for Uladh Ógra culminating in a successful National Congress in Belfast in November. We are even more determined this year to ensure that more Ógra cumann are springing up across Uladh, bringing more young republicans into the struggle, to play their part in freeing our country and effecting the necessary change for citizens.”

“Sinn Féin are now the largest party in the north, and the same vigour and energy that young republicans showed in popularising republicanism at the European election, will be demonstrated when we lead the way in building our political strength and support in the Westminster election in 2010. We will also be extremely active in leading the campaign for Irish Unity with our ‘Who fears a United Ireland?’ campaign and be challenging the disastrous budget cuts implemented across the 26 Counties. This is an important year to mobilise support for our republican objectives which will ensure freedom, justice and equality for all citizens across Ireland.”