Ógra Shinn Féin on the March in the Basque Country

Ógra Shinn Féin activists have returned from an international delegation to the Basque Country over the past week.

They were there at the invite of Basque youth movement Segi, to celebrate the Basque national day (Aberri Eguna) and to participate in international workshops. The theme for the workshops was Todays Europe: Youth and Rebel.

Representing Ógra were Barry McNally from Tyrone and Caoimhe Sloan from Meath. Whilst in the Basque country the Irish delegation took part in public talks and discussions with various groups and organisations about the situation in Ireland currently.


There were several other left wing groups from throughout Europe and beyond that took part in the international workshops.

Whilst in the Basque country the Ógra delegation also took part in the Gazte Martxa (Mountain March).

For three days over 2,000 young people hiked through the mountains of the Basque country symbolically crossing from Spanish into French occupied territory in the Basque country. In wet and at times snowy conditions the hike amounted to 35 km and took just over 14 hours spread over 3 days.

Concluding the march on Easter Sunday there was a celebration and festival to mark the Basque national day.

Before the festival commenced there was political act highlighting various aspects of Basque history and culture which was watched by many thousands of Basque young people. Many more had descended on the town of Donibane Garazira to join those 2,000 finishing the Gazte Martxa.

Speaking upon their return to Ireland Barry McNally had this to say:

“The recent visit to the Basque country is one of a number of engagements in recent years with the Basque youth movement Segi to build upon our already strong international links. We also used the occasion to build links with other European groups who were present.”

“The highlight of the week in the Basque country was the mountain march or Gazte martxa. We joined over 2,000 Basque young people in the 3 day hike. It was amazing to see so many young people turning up for the hike. It was also inspiring that the Basque youth movement could deliver on a project on such a scale. The organisation behind it was immense and the event was a huge success.”

“At the same time, as thousands of people were mobilising throughout Ireland to remember the patriots of 1916, thousands of Basques were mobilising in Irun to take part in their national day march. This once again highlights the longstanding relationship between Ireland and the Basque country as the Basque national day was chosen in reference to the 1916 rising in Ireland.”

“Whilst in the Basque Country we also experienced the repressive measures faced by many Basques on a daily basis. We call for such repressive measures to cease. The conflict in the Basque Country can only be solved through the ending of repression, inclusive dialogue between the French, Spanish and Basque Left Independence Movement, aimed at evolving a true democratic process which allows the Basque people to freely organise towards their objectives of Independence and Socialism.”