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Comrade Ryan
05-09-2008, 07:39 PM
09/05/08

éirígí will hold its second Ard-Fheis in Dublin this weekend. Formed in the same city, as a campaigns group, on the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 2006, éirígí has developed significantly in the time that has elapsed since.

The party, which began as a campaigns group with six members, has now grown to the point where it has hundreds of members and supporters spread across Ireland.

The events of the last two years have shown the real appetite that exists in Ireland for a radical socialist republican alternative to the status quo.

Party chairperson Brian Leeson paid credit to éirígí activists and outlined the task that lay ahead.

“The credit for éirígí’s growth so far has to go to our activists and the courage and commitment they have displayed over the last two years. Without the work they are doing on the ground on a daily basis, none of our achievements would have been possible.

“éirígí proposes an alternative society in Ireland and actively campaigns for its realisation – to build that alternative we will first need to build an alternative liberation movement to those that have gone before.

“éirígí fully intends to play its part in that process, but it will require the involvement of citizens from every working class community in this country.

“In two years we have taken part in many campaigns and initiatives – from our involvement in the Shell to Sea and No to Lisbon campaigns, to our pioneering of the No British Royal Visits and the Reclaim the Republic campaigns. Through these campaigns éirígí has engaged with thousands of people throughout Ireland.

“Legislation, bills, treaties and parliaments can only deliver a certain amount of change. Incremental and fundamental change in how people’s lives are lived almost invariably has a starting point elsewhere. It is important to highlight this point in the Ireland of today.”

Brian continued:

“This Ard-Fheis is also an opportunity for us to ask republicans and socialists nationwide to join with us in rebuilding the republican movement, in tackling the issues that cause distress all over this island and removing the key ills that confront us – the British occupation and the unequal socio-economic system that pertains on both sides of Britain’s border.

“Republicanism has travelled a long and hard road to a point where it is now in a period of flux. We understand the difficulties of shedding old ideas and loyalties and understand the difficulties of mounting a revolutionary initiative in the current climate. But, understanding the ongoing occupation and the current socio-economic model, we see no option but to begin to reinvigorate the socialist republican message throughout the country.

“Only the citizens of this country have the potential to liberate it from those who champion the system of exploitation and inequality that currently exists – nobody else will do it for us.”

éirígí will be holding its third annual James Connolly commemoration at Arbour Hill Cemetery, Dublin, following Saturday’s Ard-Fheis. All those who wish to remember Connolly and shape society around his ideas are welcome and are asked to assemble at the entrance of the Cemetery at 3.15pm.

RisenBelfast
05-09-2008, 07:47 PM
Look forward to it. The annual Connolly commemoration and the Ard Fheis on the same day is a great symbolic display of where the party is and intends to go.

Liam Lynch
05-09-2008, 07:51 PM
Will the Motions be posted?

Comrade Ryan
05-09-2008, 07:56 PM
Will the Motions be posted?

Don't know.

Liam Lynch
05-09-2008, 08:15 PM
Don't know.

Do your best, it'll be interesting to see them.

Comrade Ryan
05-09-2008, 08:21 PM
Do my best for what?

andreas
05-09-2008, 08:27 PM
I would also be intersted to see the motions, good luck Comrades.

ardonian
05-09-2008, 08:27 PM
To post the motions.

Liam Lynch
05-09-2008, 08:29 PM
Do my best for what?

To post the motions.

Comrade Ryan
05-09-2008, 08:29 PM
I would also be intersted to see the motions, good luck Comrades.

Thanks.

Feel free to call by the commemoration boys.

andreas
05-09-2008, 08:37 PM
I think there is a demonstration tomorrow in Derry for the POW's but best of luck for Ard Fheis and commemoration, what would Connolly think of yankie investment without even the pretence of protection for workers?

Comrade Ryan
05-09-2008, 08:38 PM
I think there is a demonstration tomorrow in Derry for the POW's but best of luck for Ard Fheis and commemoration, what would Connolly think of yankie investment without even the pretence of protection for workers?

To the wall they go!

andreas
05-09-2008, 08:46 PM
Indeed.

MarkyMark
05-09-2008, 11:33 PM
How big of an attendance is expected?

Liam Lynch
05-10-2008, 09:57 PM
Any word of how it went?

RisenBelfast
05-10-2008, 10:03 PM
It went very well.

The motions, amended constitution and recordings of keynote speeches at the Ard Fheis plus the Connolly commemoration (with Tommy McKearney's inspiring and uncompromisingly socialist address) will be reproduced online in the coming days.

If I can stay awake long enough I'll put a some teaser photos up.

Liam Lynch
05-10-2008, 10:08 PM
It went very well.

The motions, amended constitution and recordings of keynote speeches at the Ard Fheis plus the Connolly commemoration (with Tommy McKearney's inspiring and uncompromisingly socialist address) will be reproduced online in the coming days.

If I can stay awake long enough I'll put a some teaser photos up.

That's interesting. Stay awake for Ireland's sake. :eusa_dance:

RisenBelfast
05-10-2008, 10:18 PM
Some crappy shots -

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2977/e1tc2.th.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e1tc2.jpg)


http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1779/e2vm3.th.jpg (http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e2vm3.jpg)

Liam Lynch
05-10-2008, 10:26 PM
Will you do your best to ensure the Motions are posted either here or on your own site?

RisenBelfast
05-10-2008, 10:33 PM
Will you do your best to ensure the Motions are posted either here or on your own site?

They will be posted on the éirígí website along with the constitution in the coming days. I don't need to do my best. It will happen.

However, it isn't a masive list of motions on anything from parking tickets to skate-board parks - it is a small list of motions articulating party focus.

Personally, I was very happy to see the strong focus on releasing all Republican politcal prisoners so high on the agenda despite not having any substantive links with most of those being held.

Liam Lynch
05-10-2008, 10:38 PM
They will be posted on the éirígí website along with the constitution in the coming days. I don't need to do my best. It will happen.

However, it isn't a masive list of motions on anything from parking tickets to skate-board parks - it is a small list of motions articulating party focus.

Personally, I was very happy to see the strong focus on releasing all Republican politcal prisoners so high on the agenda despite not having any substantive links with most of those being held.

Good man. Can we rely on you here to let us know which motions passed etc and the general tone of debate?

boiler-1888
05-10-2008, 10:39 PM
Great to see the POW are on the agenda here. I hope when you say 'rebuild the republican movement' that it includes the rest of us united. The last thing Ireland needs is another republican movement.

RisenBelfast
05-10-2008, 10:48 PM
It may be a bit weird for those involved in SF but as éirígí is 'one member, one vote' and believes in consensus (you'll see how seriously that is taken once the constitution is published) the tone was about empowerment. Motions were amended during the AF, real discussion took place and no top table told anyone how to think.

(we didn't hang any capitalists though - so it wasn't perfect)

boiler-1888
05-10-2008, 11:20 PM
It may be a bit weird for those involved in SF but as éirígí is 'one member, one vote' and believes in consensus (you'll see how seriously that is taken once the constitution is published) the tone was about empowerment. Motions were amended during the AF, real discussion took place and no top table told anyone how to think.

(we didn't hang any capitalists though - so it wasn't perfect)
A very democratic way of doing things. Was a motion passed on supporting the POW's risen Belfast?

RisenBelfast
05-11-2008, 08:17 AM
Yes a motion was passed on all republican political prisoners.

boiler-1888
05-11-2008, 10:30 AM
Was republican unity mentioned, given eirgi promotes broad front thinking?

RisenBelfast
05-11-2008, 10:54 AM
Was republican unity mentioned, given eirgi promotes broad front thinking?

Alliance building was confirmed within the amended constitution. This stuff will all be going online so I'll not type it in but I'm sure links will be provided when they're available.

boiler-1888
05-11-2008, 01:08 PM
Alliance building was confirmed within the amended constitution. This stuff will all be going online so I'll not type it in but I'm sure links will be provided when they're available.
Nice one eirigi.

Comrade Ryan
05-11-2008, 06:56 PM
Nice one eirigi.

See patience does pay off some times friend.

Just give the group some time and space and i'm sure it'll do the right thing.

Its not perfect but it is serious.

Liam Lynch
05-11-2008, 07:06 PM
See patience does pay off some times friend.

Just give the group some time and space and i'm sure it'll do the right thing.

Its not perfect but it is serious.

Where you there?

RisenBelfast
05-11-2008, 07:24 PM
One thing that should be noted was, yet again the Branch harassment of éirígí activists. They photographed those attending the commemoration, stopped and took details of many participants and expanded this harassment to the bus drivers being used to transport activists. But at least two of them got to hear some of Tommy's oration - so it wasn't an entirely wasted day/life for them.

andreas
05-11-2008, 07:40 PM
To be expected i suppose, at least yis aren't being interned...yet.