Cork May Day March – Report & Photos

A colourful sight on the city streets to gladden any conscious worker's heart!

This year’s march organised under the auspices of the Independent Workers’ Union paraded proudly and successfully through the streets of our city, both commemorating workers’ stuggles of the past and looking to the future – a future hopefully starred with victories for the working class over the tyranny of rapacious heartless Capital.

The marchers assembled at Lapp’s Quay and set off late, at a quarter to eight, for some Garda ‘reason’ or other. The 200-strong (my estimate) march proceeded to Daunt Sq. via Parnell Place, Merchants’ Ouay and Patrick St. Along the way the march stopped at various points along the route, where speakers (IWU General Sec. Noel Murphy, poet and socialist Diarmuid Ó Dálaigh and Cork Women’s Right to Choose’s Mary Favier) recalled some events, persons and places from Cork city’s history that were important in the struggle of labour in Ireland and worldwide.

At Daunt Sq. the marchers were addressed by Councillor Mick Barry of the Socialist Party, IWU General Sec. Noel Murphy, Rosie Meade of the Free the Old Head of Kinsale campaign and Margeret O’Regan of the IWU May Day organising committee.

After the speeches, the band Ilya K struck up tune and blasted out May Day celebration to the assembled throng. Decks are also set up and the workers’ playtime on the city streets will continue for a few hours yet, in now time-honoured Cork May Day fashion.

The display of banners and general colour gave this year’s version of the parade an edge over previous years’ parades, and the sight of the parade will hopefully give workers in Cork and further afield courage in these times that the rich of our world intend to make tougher for our class. The parade gave a little piece of joy to carry forward into the future struggles that surely lie ahead.

Many thanks is due to the IWU May Day Committee for putting in a marvellous effort in organising this year’s event – it certainly paid off and this year has demonstrated the vibrancy and the indefatigability of the radical left in the city.

Oh, and speaking of indefatigable, Cork’s own veteran protestor Pat ‘the Picket’ Allen was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the IWU May Day Committee tonight at the celebratory May Day do in the Spailpín Fánach, to mark forty years of Pat’s inimitable style of public protest. It was a gesture to show him some little mark of appreciation by his friends in Cork for his persistence in staying at the ‘bleeding edge’ of public life for so long. Long may he remain there, and in his mad costumes too!