Friday, November 20, 2009

Cúige Organiser's Address- Dublin

Colm O Mordha
Baile Átha Cliath Organiser
Ógra Shinn Féin

I would like to start off with saying that I have been a member of Ógra for a few years now and right throughout that time there was one Ógra activist that was an inspiration to me; Barry McColgan.
Because he is the best, most capable and dedicated Ógra activist I know and have known. I would like to thank him for everything he had done for Ógra and wish him well. I don't think he's been given the recognition for all he has achieved.

So thanks Barry for everything.

Since August of this year Dublin Ógra has been in a state of restructuring, with the election of a new officer board for Dublin Ógra This also coincides with the reorganisation of Dublin Sinn Féin, today the senior party within Dublin, pacifically Pajo the ODU rep for Dublin and Cuige Ógra Mentor, has been an enormous help to Ógra’s development, I can’t stress enough, that he has just been absolutely fantastic for Ógra and Dublin Sinn Féin itself.

Where previously the current Dublin Sinn Féin Youth Officer Oisin Dolan and previous Dublin Ógra Chair, was left to build Ógra literarily on his own, which wasn’t fair.

Today it’s not just me who runs Ógra in the city its Pajo, its Oisin, its Mark, Daithi, Orla and the whole Ógra Officer Board and the 9 Ógra Cumann Chairs.

Also as a number of you may know, this is also a new development for Ógra. There is a separate College structure, within Dublin Ógra, run by the Dublin Ógra Vice chair Paddy Daly. This year we ran the most successful Freshers in terms of numbers joining, unfortunately how active they will be is still up in the air.

We have also made major in roads in setting up 5 new Cumann, although they are still in the development stages, it is are hope and plan that by the end of 2010, we will have an Ógra Cumann in all 12 General Election Constituencies.

We are currently in the middle of developing a 12 month plan for the Cuige, which will deal with all aspects of the Cuige,

· including finance,
· publicity,
· educating the membership,
· recruitment
· and of course campaigns

In terms of the campaigns, currently we are in the middle of developing a number of campaigns they are as follows:

No Cuts to Drug Rehabilitation demonstration on the 21st of November

Which Involves Dublin Mid West Ógra organising a protest outside a drug rehab unit in Clondakin, to call on the Dublin Government not to make any Cuts in combating Drugs in this year’s budget.


Na Fianna Event, in Dublin on the 21st of November

On the 21st of this month (November) at 7pm in Cassidy's Hotel, Parnell Square East. The Na Fianna Commemoration Committee, which Ógra ties into have organised an event to mark the 100th anniversary. This event has been organised as a social event and a gathering of ex- Na Fianna members, as well as current Sinn Féin, Republicans and Ogra members.

During the night there will a few short speeches, a photo exhibition and open bar.



24 hour day of action for the homeless, 28th November

There is a 24 hour day of action for the homeless and future homeless, on the 28th of November
Where Dublin Central Ógra will be conducting a 24hr day of action at the GPO; including a sleep out that night, this will be a symbolic event to call on the Dublin Government to be something to combat the current homelessness, while also calling for the introduction of a NAMA style bailout for the home owners who are on the verge of homelessness. If the banks and developers get one, why can’t the homeless.

Fasting for Crumlin Hospital on the 5th of December

Dublin South Central Ógra in conjunction with the senior party, are organising a 12 hour Fast for Crumlin Hospital, this will commence on the 5th of December at 8am until 8pm outside the hospital itself, where we will be carrying out a collection for the Crumlin Hospital Trust.

Suicide Awareness Event on the 17th of December

Dublin North West Ógra will be organising a Suicide Awareness meeting in Finglas village, this event is being organised 8 days before Christmas as this is a time where unfortunately a lot of suicides occur.

Everybody is this room is invited along to all these events.


To summarise;

Over the last 3 months Dublin Ógra has being doing well because we have a excellent team around us, and I would suggest to any Cumann chair or Cuige Organiser for that fact, if you want to be successful don’t try do it on your own, built a team around you. Because one individual player doesn’t make a team and you are only as good, as the team your in. With saying that I would like to welcome Daithi Byrne and Orla on to the national executive, as they are people who have been the back bone of Dublin Ógra and hopefully will be to the back bone for Ógra nationally in the year to come.
In short, to coin a phrase as far as Dublin Ógra is concerned a lot done, a hell of a lot more to do.

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