Interview: West Belfast Ógra Shinn Féin Organiser Harry Connolly

Barry McNally

Harry Connolly has recently been appointed the new Belfast Organiser of West Belfast Ógra Shinn Fein. Harry took time of his schedule to talk to Ógras Barry McNally of the task that lies ahead.

Growing up in Ballymurphy, west Belfast Harry said that politics was evident everywhere. Coming from a traditional republican background, politics was always discussed in the Connolly household. “Politics was everywhere, from the political murals on the gables of houses to the British army patrolling our streets. There was a large British army camp just 100 metres from the front door of my home so the oppression was very evident in everyday live. However you got on with daily life as if everything was normal. The Brits were never far away. When they came into Ballymurphy they were bricked back out of it, so they rarely came in unless they were mounting something big.”

The Community and family I came from had a big influence on my politics. Living and growing up in West Belfast my politics was evident within myself. I think there are many people who are political but need something to happen for them to realise it. They need their politics drawn out of them if you like.

Harry also recalls early interaction with the RUC. As he and a number of friends were making their way to the nearby school and RUC landrover passed by. A number of the youths pelted it with stones and bricks. “The next thing the RUC jumped out with their guns, one of them pointed the gun at my head and said ‘I will blow off your fucking head if you throw another brick.’ I was in P6 or P7 at the time.’ Such incidents only served to show Harry that such oppression had to be challenged head on.

Harry joined Sinn Féin with a resolve to make such incidents a thing of the past and to play his part in the struggle for Irish Freedom. Whilst he joined Sinn Féin Harry stated that he didn’t join Ógra Shinn Féin as he said he didn’t see Ógra as relevant to him as Sinn Féin were. ‘Although many young people were speaking about Ógra Shinn Fein and knew who they were I seen Sinn Fein and more relevant. However when I joined Sinn Féin I realised how integral Ógra were to the Republican Movement. They are vital to the future of Irish Republicanism. However I was in Sinn Féin two years before I joined Ógra Shinn Fein. There are major issues which Ógra are tackling head on which are relevant to very many young people. Issues such as alcohol and drug abuse as well as suicide prevention are huge issues. Ógra have been to the fore in trying to address these issues, however addressing them is not merely sitting in a room chatting about it. But they are active on the ground. The lack of opportunities for many young people today is one reason, I believe for the cause of some of the issues affecting young people today. We live in a very different society to that of 20 or 30 years ago.”

“I was appointed as the Youth Development Officer for the Belfast Comhairle Ceantair recently in order to develop a youth structure in West Belfast that would stand strong. We also drew up a plan of work to ensure republican youth activism in the area. However in addition to this we aim to tie people in with the wider structure s of the movement such as Sinn Fein.

Looking forward to developing Ógra in West Belfast Harry outlined a number of events which are within their plan of work.

“Recently we held a hands off Cuba protest in West Belfast to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Che Guevara and to keep alive the legacy and vision of Che Guevara. We have printed up a number of T-Shirts to commemorate the 40th anniversary also. In addition to this we have handed in a letter of protest to the US consulate in relation to the same issue and to call for an end to the economic blockade of Cuba as well as protesting against the ‘Bush Plan’ in the event of Fidel Castro’s death in Cuba . We also tied in with a protest calling for a release of the Batasuna leadership which were arrested recently and are now in jail at the behest of the Spanish Government. We are also hosting a number of tours for west Belfast Ógra to the H-Blocks and Armagh women’s jail as well as visiting our comrades who are still imprisoned variously throughout Ireland . We will also be focussing on engaging with the youth of west Belfast through various means. We will be hosting videos showings, undertaking leaflets drops and will oversee a recruitment drive in the west Belfast area in the upcoming weeks and months. We need to develop a structure that is directed by young people, for young people in west Belfast. With young people to the fore we can achieve this.”

“Being a campaigning party and not going through the motions is the key. Being on the ground and engaging young people and finding out what’s relevant to them is invaluable to any youth movement.

Outside of politics Harry has wide and diverse interests.

“I enjoy most aspects of Irish culture, indeed I am the Cultural officer for South Antrim GAA. I am also involved variously in Community work in the west Belfast area that involves work with youth people from various backgrounds and includes cross community work. I am interested in Boxing as well as keeping fit and being physically active.”

Summing Harry stated, “If we are to be serious about freedom we must value the youth, as Padraig Pearse said “You cannot conquer Ireland you cannot extinguish the Irish passion for freedom: if our deed has not been sufficient to win freedom then our children will win it with a better deed.”

Quickfire round:

Favourite Food: Pizza

Favourite Drink: Pint of Millar

Favourite Music / Artist: Christy Moore, Planxty and Moving Hearts.

Favourite Film: The Champ

Favourite Book: Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee

Favourite Holiday resort: Cuba

Person most influential in your life: Terry Enright

Person you would like to meet (living): Fidel Castro

Person you would like to meet (deceased): Ché Guevara

If you were president of Ireland or Taoiseach what 3 things would you do to change Ireland ?

- Destroy Partition

- Restore Irish neutrality-including re routing US War Planes from Shannon Airport .

- Distribute the wealth in equal measures to ensure genuine opportunity for all the people of Ireland .