Louth Sinn Féin Republican Youth has only been
re-established in the past year. So it has been an upward struggle to get
motivated and get active again. We have been involved with senior cumann in
Louth and have been well represented at protests against budget cuts and child
benefit. One of our protests made national news, with our very own
Cathaoirleach Conall McGuill, Leas-Cathaoirleach Conor O’Neill and Cllr. Tomas
Sharkey doing a rather convincing impression of Enda Kenny, Eamonn Gilmore and
greedy bankers!
We have just had a meeting with our local TD, Gerry
Adams, to form a clear plan for the upcoming months. A weekend has been
organised to coincide with the Bodenstown commemoration and will be held in
Omeath, Co. Louth – the first time the little village has been given such an
opportunity to host so many young republicans. We are flat out planning and
organising the weekend to ensure Louth Sinn Féin is well represented and a good
time is had by all. We have a historical tour of the former gaeltacht area, and
of Dundalk Gaol arranged as well as many other workshops and events. On Friday
night, local musicians from Omeath will be having a traditional music session
so we are hoping that anyone who can play will bring along an instrument and
join in! We have another musician coming on Saturday night, and already there
is a buzz in the area.
Following the planning meeting with Gerry Adams TD and Cllr. Edel Corrigan, we have also decided on a campaign to focus on for the next year – Suicide awareness and prevention. All our cumann members will be undertaking PIPS Suicide Prevention training and we aim to produce a simple leaflet with warning signs to look out for in family and friends, along with contact details of organisations that can help. A practical and very real way SFRY Louth can benefit the lives of young people and their communities. Suicide is an issue that is entirely preventable and yet is evident in every county in Ireland, north and south. This issue needs to be tackled and those who are having feelings of distress or despair need to be given the opportunity to reach out for support. The suicide taboo needs addressed sooner rather than later.
Gerry Adams, said at the meeting, “The suicide awareness campaign is a practical way to reach out to young people. It is an issue that is highly relevant in Louth, considering the number of deaths by suicide far outnumber the national average. Tá mé ag súil go mór le bheidh ag obair leis na daoine óga seo i contae Lú”.
Our members were equally pleased with the direction the cumann is going in. Conor Cusack, from Drogheda, said “I’m really looking forward to the coming months, I have only recently joined SF and am glad to be able to be involved in such an important campaign. I think everyone has been affected by suicide directly or indirectly so it is essential that people are made aware of any support that is available to them.”
From the meeting we have also decided to put forward one of our members to the National Youth Committee. SFRY Louth are very excited to nominate Conor O’Neill and know he will work extremely hard for Louth and Sinn Féin Republican Youth as a whole.
Gerry Adams tweeted following the meeting, “Met young people in Louth. Very impressed. Discussed suicide & youth unemployment. Mól an óige ‘s tiocfaidh sí!”.
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