Saturday 8th of June, Information stall at Northside shopping centre.

On Saturday the 8th of June up to ten éirígí Northeast activists took part in our regular information stall at the Northside shopping centre in Coolock.

The activists handed out our local leaflet titled "Election promises abandoned in Coolock" along with stickers  aimed at highlighting our many different campaigns.

The stall went down a success as hundreds of leaflets were distributed and many locals stopped and vented their anger about their current concerns with the water tax in particular being a big issue for many locals who are outraged by the proposed charge on water.

éirígí Dublin Northeast highlight election lies.

On Saturday the 1^st of June, up to 15 members of éirígí Dublin Northeast gathered to deliver our local information leaflet to the residents in the Ardmore estate.

The leaflet titled “Election promises abandoned in Coolock” Highlights the failure of elected government politicians like Fine Gael’s Terence Flanagan to live up to their promises to the people of the greater Coolock area. The leaflet drop was received well as many residents stopped éirígí activists to have a chat about the leaflet and their general concerns.

Unsurprisingly it looks like these particular career politicians have followed suit of a long list before hand that have and will say anything to convince the electorate to get them into Leinster house. It is now time for a change and for genuine working class people to have their own say and empower themselves rather than voting for these puppets of the state.

Commenting from Coolock, éirígí Dublin Northeast spokesperson Ciaran Heaphey said “I am not one bit surprised of the actions of the Labour and Fine Gael politicians in their blatant lies to the local people, They join the majority of other government TD’s around the state who betray the people after being elected to gain a handy wage for themselves from the tax payer. “

He continued “I think this leaflet is just a small step to raising awareness of the lies told by the politicians to gain their handy salary after being put in government. I think it is time for the community to question their elected reps, ask them why they have not delivered the changes they ensured the people they would. I believe here at éirígí we are fighting for change and fighting to empower local communities, I would ask anybody who wants to fightback aswell to come and join éírígí in Dublin Northeast.”

Election Promises Abandoned in Coolock.

Since the General Election in 2011 and the subsequent victory for the Fine Gael/ Labour coalition, little or nothing has changed from the failed policies of Fianna Fáil. Unemployment is rampant and austerity continues to cripple communities across this state.

In Dublin North-East, the 2011 election saw Fine Gael’s Terence Flanagan and Labour’s Tommy Broughan and Sean Kenny elected to represent the people of this area. Since being elected almost every promise made by these career politicians, has been broken.

Before the election Fine Gael TD Terence Flanagan promised, ‘Economic recovery and job creation, political reform, a focus on education, a fairer health care system and tackling crime on the streets’.

It’s now clear to all that Flanagan’s first promise of economic recovery and job creation has been well and truly broken by the Fine Gael/ Labour coalition. In Coolock and Darndale alone unemployment levels are above the national average of 14.2%. This area has become a graveyard of empty factory’s that once provided employment to the people of the area. It’s clear Flanagan and other government politicians have no desire to fight for economic recovery or job creation.

The above is just one example from a list of elected career politicians who promised the people of Coolock everything under the sun. Since taking their seats these same politicians have delivered very little for our community yet collect an annual wage of over €92,000 plus expenses.

The lack of concern local government TD’s have for the welfare of our communities is highlighted by their failure to engage with the local residents. Last year the Coolock branch of the Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes invited all three government TD’s to a public meeting in the area to answer residents questions about these unfair taxes. Showing their true colours and contempt for the local community the government politicians refused to respond.

Speaking from Coolock, éirígí spokesperson Ciaran Heaphey said ‘Coolock is one of many communities across this state sold lies by sparkling eyed politicians seeking big salaries from Leinster house.

‘It’s now 2013 and the election promises made by the likes of Fine Gael’s Terrence Flanagan and the labour TD’S have not been delivered. The Fine Gael/ Labour coalition claimed they were a change from the failed policies of Fianna Fáil but two years on from that election they have shown this community their true faces.

Heaphey continued, ‘éirígí believes that real change can only be achieved when people get organised and take a stand for their families and their communities. I would urge anybody from the local area who believes in fighting for their community to join the resistance and get involved with éirígí in Coolock.’

Coolock Remembers the 1916 Rising

24/03/13

Since 1916, Easter has been an important period for Irish republicans at home and overseas. It is then that republicans remember and honour all of the men and women who have given their lives in the struggle for national liberation. This Easter marks the 97th anniversary of the Rising and like every year it will be marked with hundreds of commemorative events across the island.

Over the last week éirígí activists in Coolock have been hard at work erecting posters and banners of Jim Larkin, James Connolly as well as the Easter Lily around the local area. These posters and banners are designed to encourage the local community to remember Ireland’s patriot dead with pride. Activists have also distributed copies of the Spring edition of éirígí’s Poblacht na nOibrithe newsletter to more than 5,000 homes throughout the Coolock and Darndale areas over the same period.

This year éirígí Coolock have organised a public meeting on the subject of “Dublin and the 1916 Rising”. The meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Monday, March 25 in the Kilmore West Community Centre in Coolock.

Speaking from Coolock, éirígí’s Dublin North-East spokesperson Ciaran Heaphey said, “Easter is an important time for Irish republicans around the world who wish to remember the brave martyrs of 1916 and all those who have fought and died for Irish freedom. Like many working class areas in this city, Coolock has a long tradition of republicanism which the people of this area are rightly proud of.

“The response that our activists have received when erecting posters and banners or selling Easter lilies confirms that the people of Coolock remain deeply committed to the ideals of the 1916 Rising.”

Heaphey continued, “This year éirígí in Coolock are organising a public talk about the Rising which will include a slide show and contribution from a local historian. In organising this meeting we are hoping to provide people with an opportunity to find out more about the Rising and those who took part in it. I would encourage people from the area and further afield to come along to what promises to be a very interesting event.”

Coolock must fight back !

Since the collapse of the so called Celtic Tiger and introduction of savage budget cutbacks across this state, the Coolock area is a classic example of a working class community under attack by the Twenty Six county government.

The unemployment rate in Coolock and Darndale is well above the national average of 14.6 and shows no signs of decreasing.

In recent years ‘slash and burn’ cutbacks have had a heavy impact on Coolock. The closure of of the Olhausen factory in Coolock was a major blow to the area, which meant the loss of with 45 jobs. The factory had provided employment to the local community for decades. This is just one of the many examples of job loss in the local area.

Coolock has also been hit hard by cuts in education which have effected local primary and secondary schools. The local healthcare system has also come under attack, with the vital Darndale Health Centre having its resources for the local mental health service snipped, something which could be a matter of life for death for residents.

Over the past few months there has been a unfortunate rise in “Illegal dumping” by the public in certain areas of Coolock and Darndale. These regrettable actions come as a direct consequence of extortionate price hikes by greyhound following the disastrous privatisation of Dublin City’s waste management service. Since privatisation Greyhound has treated the people of Dublin with contempt. Their outrageous actions since then includes failing to collect litter from designated collection points and most recently, the introduction of new green bags in packs of six  at a cost of 9 euro. The story behind the privatisation of Dublin’s waste management system is a clear example of why our communities should fight to defend our public services!

Over the last year éirígí has been heavily involved in the community, through our involvement with the local Coolock/Santry C.A.H.W.T (Campaign Against the Household and Water Taxes)  and the  holding of our weekly information stall at the Northside Shopping Centre every Saturday. éirígí has also held many successful and informative public meetings about issue’s that effect the local community aimed at organising and mobilising the working class!

We would urge everybody in the Coolock and surrounding area that is angered by budget cutbacks and austerity to join the fight back and join éirígí.