Upcoming Events

National | Miscellaneous

no events match your query!

New Events

National

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Anti-Empire

Anti-Empire

offsite link This Site Will Soon Be Hosted at anti-em... Sun Sep 22, 2024 17:24 | Anti-Empire

offsite link Ukraine Shoots Down F-16 With Patriot, A... Sat Aug 31, 2024 11:53 | Anti-Empire

offsite link Surprise Offensive Puts 300 km² of Russ... Fri Aug 09, 2024 08:44 | Marko Marjanović

offsite link The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire

offsite link In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire

Anti-Empire >>

The Saker
A bird's eye view of the vineyard

offsite link Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb

offsite link The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog.  We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below). 

offsite link What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are

offsite link Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of

offsite link The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Israel attacks the United Nations , by Thierry Meyssan Tue Oct 15, 2024 06:58 | en

offsite link Israel Ready to Drop Nuclear Bombs on Iran's Peaceful Nuclear Facilities, Scott ... Tue Oct 15, 2024 06:56 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N°103 Fri Oct 11, 2024 12:15 | en

offsite link The Anglo-Saxons carry on bombing Yemen, although West Point considers it ineffe... Fri Oct 11, 2024 12:07 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N°102 Tue Oct 08, 2024 07:00 | en

Voltaire Network >>

‘Impatient Republicans’ gather in Belfast for Ógra National Congress.

category national | miscellaneous | press release author Tuesday November 17, 2009 23:41author by Ógra Shinn Féin - Ógra Shinn Féin Report this post to the editors

Last weekend saw in excess of a hundred young republican activists, gather at the Felons Club in Belfast for the Ógra Shinn Féín national congress. The weekend was the conclusion of a significant year for Ógra in which the republican youth movement remembered the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the original republican youth movement, Na Fianna Éireann.

The Weekend began on the Friday with an opening address from local MP and Uachtarán Shinn Féin, Gerry Adams. In addressing the congress he urged young republicans to continue to fight for the communities that are being hit most by the present recession, and for our national democratic aims.

This was followed by the final Address from outgoing National Organiser Barry MacColgan. Barry welcomed delegates from 'as far away as Cork, Derry and East Belfast' to the Congress. Reflecting on the past three years as organiser with pride, he expressed his confidence in the organisation to continue to build, and offered his continuing support as a member of Ógra.

The congress then launched in to the substantive part of the congress, with delegates beginning the debate on the motions on various issues of concern to young people.

The Friday evening drew to a close with a screening of the play ‘The Young Guard of Erin’, which told the story of Na Fianna Éireann and some of the young Belfast Fianna, and Cumann na gCailíní girls who died in the most recent phase of struggle, and music from the Spirit of Freedom.

The congress restarted bright and early the following morning with a further tranche of motions, and the debate continuing unabated on issues as diverse as the EU, Parades, and the Environment, before moving on to the workshops.

A number of prominent republicans including Padraig Wilson, Bobby Storey, Sean Murray, Daithi McKay, and Eoin O Bróin agreed to conduct these workshops, which all activists found to be of great value, with many ideas being hatched for the next twelve months of activism.

Meanwhile voting for the positions on the National Executive was going strong. The successful activists from a very strong field were Órla Ní Dhúill, John McDermott, Daithi Byrne, Joe Lynch, Laura Gildernew and Kerry McColgan.

A further election saw Portadown activist Gemma McKenna elected to the Ard Chomhairle, in a tight race with Mark Moloney of Dublin.

Former National Organiser of Ógra, Eoin O’Broin, was joined by Stephen Agnew of the green party for the Public Talk, ‘Ireland’s future – Free Green and Left’. Following both speakers addresses, the highly entertaining debate continued from the floor, and any observer would surely have been struck by the quality and maturity of debate from Ógra members.

Following the very positive Cúige organisers’ reports, in which all cúigí reported development and growth, Sinn Féin’s first Senator, and former Dublin Ógra organiser, Pearse Doherty gave the Keynote address. Pearse spoke of his pride, as a former Ógra member to be invited to speak to the congress, and commended Ógra for its development in the last twelve months. Picking up on the theme of Ógra’s new national campaign ‘Who fears to speak of a United Ireland?’ he emphasised that Irish unity was not an abstract notion, but an urgent priority, and stated ‘We need to be the impatient Republicans’. He urged Ógra to continue to grow and to become the most significant and influential youth movement, and to help win the hearts and minds of young people for the republican movement. His address was greeted with rapturous applause.

Johnny McGibbon then introduced Cork activist, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, as the incoming National Organiser to address the congress. Reflecting on a successful year, he pointed to the example of Na Fianna as a benchmark of Republican activism, stating that ‘Not only was the spirit of na Fianna Evident when a host of young people led the National Hunger strike commemoration in Galbally, it was evident in Ógra’s fight against fees, against cutbacks, for Demilitarisation, and against Drugs. Anywhere Ógra stood up for the communities it represents, that’s where the spirit of na Fianna was most evident.’ He encouraged delegates to be active both on the new national campaign and on local campaigns, and to build on Ógra’s development in the last year.In his address he also officially launched the new national campaign ‘Who fears to speak of a United Ireland?’ This campaign will involve Ógra aiming to push the national question further up the agenda, with actions as disparate and varied as leaflet and banner drops on demilitarisation, to debates on the union as against Irish Unity, and much more besides.
As he thanked Barry McColgan, and outgoing national secretary Cllr Johnny McGibbon for their contributions to Ógra in the last number of years, delegates rose to their feet in applause, giving them both a fitting send off.

Shortly afterwards, Pearse Doherty and Padraig Wilson launched a new mural on the Falls road highlighting the connection between Ógra and Na Fianna.

That evening saw the culmination of a year spent commemorating the anniversary of Na Fianna, with a Dinner Dance in honour of the Fianna who gave their lives for Ireland’s freedom, with Gerry O’ Hara the main speaker. An emotional evening saw a presentation to the families of the Fianna on the roll of honour, and a number of poems and songs from Ógra members, followed by music from Poitín.

The weekend drew to a close on the Sunday morning with a football match between members of Ógra and Na Fianna veterans. A close match saw the decidedly younger than expected Na Fianna team come out on top. A rematch at some point is surely on the cards.
As delegates departed from Belfast, all involved felt assured that the future of the struggle was in good hands. Albeit perhaps not all that good at football.

Related Link: http://ograshinnfein.blogspot.com/2009/11/impatient-republicans-gather-in-belfast.html
author by gdpublication date Fri Nov 20, 2009 23:44author address author phone Report this post to the editors

So are Ogra a dissident republican organisation - having read the article it seems that the organisation they are affiliated to dissents from the long held beliefs of Irish republicanism - or does it just mean those opposed to Sinn Fein

 
© 2001-2024 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy