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Workers' Party Árd Fheis report

category waterford | anti-capitalism | press release author Monday April 23, 2007 16:10author by Press Office - The Workers' Partyauthor email wpi at indigo dot ieauthor phone (01) 8740716

Big turn-out at Waterford conference

The Workers' Party held its Árd Fheis in Waterford last Saturday with a big turn-out at the Granville Hotel which was packed to capacity for most debates.
Some of the attendance at the Workers' Party Árd Fheis 21.04.07
Some of the attendance at the Workers' Party Árd Fheis 21.04.07

Hundreds of delegates, visitors and guests attended the Workers' Party Árd Fheis in Waterford on Saturday (21st April 2007).

The conference was addressed by a number of guest speakers who included:-

Noel Carrillo, Cuban Ambassador to Ireland
Marie O'Connor of the Health Services Action Group and author of the recent book "Emergency" on the crisis in the health service
Roger Cole, Peace & Neutrality Network,
Dick Roche, well known Waterford trade union activist

The Árd Fheis was also a rallying point for the election campaign of local Workers' Party Councillor, John Halligan who received a standing ovation from the packed hall.

Full reports from the Árd Fheis including a photo gallery and document downloads can be found at the Workers' Party website at the address below.

Related Link: http://www.workerspartyireland.net

Workers Party Councillor John Halligan salutes the crowd
Workers Party Councillor John Halligan salutes the crowd

Cuban Ambassador Noel Carrillo at the WP Ard Fheis
Cuban Ambassador Noel Carrillo at the WP Ard Fheis

Former Workers' Party president Tomás Mac GIolla speaking from the floor
Former Workers' Party president Tomás Mac GIolla speaking from the floor

Comments (4 of 4)

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author by Niall - ATGWUpublication date Mon Apr 23, 2007 16:24author address author phone

I was a guest at the Ard Fheis on Saturday and the turnout was quite large on the day with the delegates packed into the hall. Quite a few of them were local members, activists and supporters. The standard of the speakers was quite high and overall it was a very good ard fheis with a good selection of speakers and issues raised. I was very impressed with Cllr. Halligan's speech and the overall impression I got is that judging by the turnout and speaking to local WP activists, is that the come election day, the WP will surprise alot of people and make a mockery of the local Red C opinion poll.

Well done to all concerned. I wish John Halligan all the best.

author by Paulpublication date Tue Apr 24, 2007 15:29author address author phone

Glad to see that the WP have put their Árd Fheis documents and speeches online,along with plenty of photos and a video of Seán Garland's Ard Fheis address. It's been a while coming but the new WP website is a vast improvement on its predecesser.

Related Link: http://www.workerspartyireland.net
author by Sergepublication date Tue Apr 24, 2007 17:56author address author phone

From reading the content of the speechs and resolutions at the WP Ard Fheis, two generalisations can be fairly made:

Most of the content is fairly uncontentious left of centre stuff. The WP have now arrived at what might be called post-stalinist politics which combines a version of left-social democracy with some hang-overs of past authoritarianism (for example, in the case of the WP, continued links with Chinese and North Korean state capitalism). This type of politics is common amongst former 'official' (no pun intended) Communist Parties in various western European countries. It is epitomised by the PCF (French Communist Party) whose disastrous result in the recent French election (1.9%) and eclipse by the post-Trotskyist LCR (4.1%) is the result of their involvement in neo-liberal coalition governments with the Socialist Party and dependence on union bureaucracy.

While I hope Cllr. Halligan does well, siimply because he is the most left wing candidate in that constituency, lets have no illusions about his politics. To quote:

"I do though passionately believe that we can marry economic success and high international achievement with our legitimate aspirations for a fair and decent society – but only if we elect sincere people who want to make a difference."

Nothing could be clearer: the working class just need to elect sincere people who will balance economic sucess with a fair society. Nothing the Greens, Sinn Féin or the old comrades in Labour would'nt agree with.

author by Paulpublication date Tue Apr 24, 2007 19:38author address author phone

Don't make the mistake of thinking that "economic success" means capitalism. Seán Garland's speech is very clear on that question as can be seen and heard from the ongoing video. The Workers' Party still sticks to the principle that the producers (i.e. workers) should control the means of production - workers power.

Related Link: http://www.workerspartyireland.net

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