Ógra Shinn Féin Easter Message 2010

At easter we gather to remember those who have gone before us, to remember our patriot dead and to honour their commitment and sacrifice. We salute the families of the patriot dead, and note that significant progress has been made in the last year to delivering the republic they valued so much.

We also take this opportunity, at this time where we gather as comrades across the country, to salute our comrades internationally who daily struggle for self determination and dignity for their peoples, from Palestine to the Basque country, and many more beside.

The last 12 months have been highly significant for Ógra Shinn Féin, and republican youth in general. 2009 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of na fianna éireann, the original republican youth movement, and as such, we endeavoured to ensure that this was marked with the apt energy, respect and ingenuity, and it is with great pride that Ógra notes the efforts of its activists to commemorate this anniversary, with murals, commemorations, publications videos, talks, and honouring the families of the members of Na Fianna on the roll of honour, at the Na Fianna Éireann dinner dance in Belfast last november.

Last year also saw Ógra campaign on a wide variety of issues such as promotion of the Easter lily, highlighting political oppression in the Basque country, and the national campaign 'Educate to be free, which was succesful in highlighting these issues to many young people, and in supporting Sinn Féín in its pursuit of an Education system that the people deserve.

The next twelve months are equally crucial however. Young people the length and breadth of the country are being trampled upon. No jobs, dole being cut, education cut backs and prohibitive third level fees. As young people and as republicans, we must endeavour to represent the young people affected by this, and to be a visible and effective lobby on their behalf, and to show them that young people can fight back.

This years national campaign 'Who fears to speak of a united ireland' also offers us opportunities to build support among young people. This campaign is intended to examine our desire for a United Ireland from a new and fresh perspective, popularising republicanism, and gaining an understanding of unionist opposition to unity. Its comes at a time when Sinn Féin is itself embarking on a renewed campaign on unity, involving the Irish Unity taskforce, and the various irish unity fora. Our work in engaging with young people around this issue will be crucial to the development of the continuing support of young people for our political project.

We applaud the excellent work that Sinn Féín is doing to highlight youth issues and to protect the rights of young people, and we will endeavour to make sure that Ógra continues to grow hand in glove with Sinn Féin.

The conditions for revolutionary and republican politics are present, and with this in mind we face the coming 12 months with optimism and energy. I urge all young people to get involved and to play their part in our struggle, by joining Ógra Shinn Féin, and helping us to build the New Ireland that the proclamation describes, but which as yet, remains unfulfilled.