'On the One Road' with Ógra Shinn Féin

25th Anniversary Hungerstrike Tour

Ógra Shinn Féin will take to the roads of Ireland on a week long tour of the Island. Starting off in Belfast on Saturday, (26th August) after the inaugural meeting of Uladh Ógra Shinn Féin the 10 person strong team will visit a number of areas throughout Ireland.

The main purpose of the tour is to strengthen Ógra Shinn Féin in the areas visited and newly appointed Ógra Shinn Féin National Organiser Barry McColgan will be using this as an opportunity to touch base with Ógra groups nationwide.Areas to be publicly visited by the Ógra delegation are Dundalk, (Saturday 26) Dublin, (Sunday 27) Kilkenny, (Monday 28) Cork, (Tuesday 29) Kerry, (Wednesday 30) and finishing of in Galway on Friday 1st September.

They will also be stopping in a number of other areas along the way to engage in local campaigning.Ógra Shinn Féin will be taking part in a number of activities while in each area. They will be performing the launch of Awaiting the Lark, the new book on the 1981 Hunger Strike, Published by Ógra Shinn Féin. There will also be public meetings about Ógra Shinn Féin and how to get involved and the Ógra delegation will also take part in leaflet drops and associated activities whilst in each of the areas.

Galway will be visited by Ógra on Friday and will be greeted with a barbeque. A Hungerstrike Commemoration and vigil will also take place. This will encompass street theatre and role plays. Following this the Ógra Shinn Féin Cuige in Connacht will hold their monthly meeting. And this will be followed by a public meeting about Ógra Shinn Féin. During this there will be the book launch of Awaiting the Lark and talks by ex prisoners, ex blanketmen and prisoners who spent time in English gaols. The evenings event will be brought to a close by a Function, which will see local musicians take to the stage in an event also open to public.Such events as in Galway will also take part in other parts of Ireland throughout the week, including Dundalk, Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, and Kerry.

Speaking ahead of the tour Barry McColgan of Ógra Shinn Féin said,

“In my capacity as Ógra Shinn Féin National Organiser I will be using the tour to touch base with a number of Ógra groups throughout Ireland. From the tour we hope to expand Ógra through increased membership and increased activism.”

“We will also be looking towards areas of potential growth and look to establish Ógra groups where currently there are none. By this tour we hope to build on the massive growth of Ógra both in terms of activism and activists.”

“We also wish to bring the memory of the Hungerstrikers to the young people of today, promoting Republican Socialist ideals that will evoke a spirit of resistance, encouraging active mobilisation against the Imperialist occupation of Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Ireland.”