Coolock Public Meeting Discusses Republicanism and the Fight Back

09/11/12

On Tuesday, October 30th, more than two dozen people attend a public meeting in Kilmore Community Centre in Coolock, Dublin. Entitled ‘Towards 2016: The Workers Republic – éirígí’s Vision’, the meeting was addressed by éirígí activists Brian Leeson and Martin Farrell.

Leeson’s contribution focused on the impact that the 1912-1922 revolutionary period has had on the Ireland of today. He argued that the revolutionary potential of that period was crushed with the emergence of a Free State which protected the interests of the big farmer, the Catholic church and the business class. The Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, the Irish Republican Army and others had fought for a sovereign independent Irish Republic that would cherish all the children of the nation equally and not for a state that would protect the interests of the few at the expense of the many.

Leeson went on to say that the Twenty-Six County state today is very far from the one envisioned in the 1916 Proclamation. Today’s state remains committed to protecting the few, in the form of the bankers, developers, the political class and their cronies – again at the expense of the many. In conclusion Leeson stated that the legacy of 1916 should be the spirit of rebellion, whereby ordinary working people decided to ignore the rules and laws of the ruling class and organise themselves into an effective resistance movement – something which people today should take inspiration from.

Next to speak was Martin Farrell, who gave the meeting an insight into éirígí’s work within the local community in Coolock, Darndale and the surrounding areas. He detailed the positives of building mass resistance within communities through organisations like the CAHWT (Campaign Against the Household and Water Tax). Martin highlighted how that campaign has mobilised hundreds of thousands to resist austerity and has shown that once communities get organised and stand together, they have the power to defeat the home tax, the water taxes and the crippling cutbacks.

Following the contributions of both speakers, questions and comments were taken from the floor. Issues raised included the current state of Irish republicanism, the biased nature of the state/corporate media as well as suggestions on how the fight back could be escalated.

Speaking after the event chairperson of the local éirígí ciorcal (branch), Ciaran Heaphey, said, “Tonight’s meeting was a huge success. Many new faces from the community came along to listen to the politics of Irish republicanism and to find out more about éirígí’s work in the local community.

“The next few years in the run up to 2016 and beyond are important years for republicanism and the type of Ireland we want to live in. Tonight’s meeting has played a small but important part in facilitating a local community in discussing the legacy of 1916 and the fight back against austerity today. The level of defiance at the meeting tonight was heartening. There is no doubt in my mind that the people of this city are seething with anger. The next step we need to take is to focus that anger onto those individuals and institutions that are responsible for the current mess.”

éirígí Announce Public Meeting on Republicanism in Coolock

21/10/12

On Tuesday, October 30th, éirígí in Dublin North East will hold a public meeting under the title ‘Towards 2016 – The Workers’ Republic: éirígí’s Vision’. The event will take place at 7.30pm in the Kilmore West Community Centre in Coolock.

The meeting will discuss the legacy of the 1916 Rising and the relevance of socialist republicanism in Ireland today. Cathaoirleach éirígí Brian Leeson will outline the party’s view of how the struggle for a united and free Ireland can be advanced over the coming years. The event will be chaired by Ciarán Heaphey, chairperson of éirígí in Dublin North East.

Speaking in advance of the event, Ciarán Heaphey said, “2016 will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 rising, an event of the utmost importance in Irish and republican history. The roots of many of the problems facing the Irish people today can be traced to the Rising, the Tan War, the partition of Ireland and the creation of the Six and Twenty-Six County states that followed these tumultuous events.

“We in éirígí believe that republicanism is as relevant today as it was in 1916. The men and women who took part in the 1916 Rising did so because they believed that the people of Ireland should be in control of their own country, economy and destinies – an idea which is very relevant in the context of Britain’s occupation of the Six Counties and IMF/EU control of the Twenty-Six Counties.”

Encouraging members of the local community to come along, Ciarán said, “éirígí is organising this public meeting to give the local community in Coolock the opportunity to come along and find out more about Irish republicanism and the socialist republican vision for Ireland. It will allow people the opportunity to listen to éirígí’s analysis and vision for the future. I would encourage anyone from the local community who would like to find out for about éirígí to come along and take the opportunity to ask questions and maybe to get involved in the struggle for a free Ireland.

“In the run up to 2016 republicans must attempt to re-popularise the ideals of the men and women of Easter week, and highlight the fact that the business of that week remains unfinished. This meeting will hopefully play a small part in that process.”

Keep up the boycott.

Cole and Colley Commemoration

Cole / Colley and Hunger Strikers to be Remembered on August 25th

02/08/12

éirígí Dublin North East will mark the 90th anniversary of the execution of Volunteers Cole and Colley with a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday, August 25th, assembling at 12.30pm at Beaumont House before the short walk to Yellow Road.

Sean Cole (17) and Alfie Colley (18), both from Dublin’s north inner city, were senior members of Na Fianna Éireann at the time of their summary execution. The young patriots were returning from a meeting on August 25th 1922, when they were abducted by Free State forces on the North Strand, before being taken to an isolated field in Whitehall. Witnesses reported that the two were then summarily executed at a spot on what is now the Yellow Road. Their executions were widely believed to have been in retaliation for the death of the Commander-in-Chief of Free State forces, Michael Collins, who had been killed just three days earlier at Béal na mBláth.

Speaking ahead of the commemoration éirígí representative for Dublin North East Ursula Ní Shionnain said, “Cole and Colley’s brutal deaths were not random, nor did they happen by mistake. Their executions were part of a systematic programme of state terror directed at republican activists, their families and the wider republican base.

“The state resorted to such tactics out of fear; fear of the power of the risen people; fear of a disciplined revolutionary movement; fear of the working class. And it is those same fears that motivate the actions of the Dublin government and their special police today. The challenge facing republicans today is to complete the work of Cole and Colley by bringing the worst fears of the political establishment to life.”

Ursula concluded by encouraging people to attend the commemoration, “This year’s anniversary is particularly important given that it marks exactly nine decades since the execution of these two young men. I would encourage people from across Dublin and the rest of the country to make the effort and join with us on August 25th to remember their sacrifice.”

Second Annual Hunger Strike Memorial Football Match

The Cole/Colley commemoration will be followed by a memorial football match to mark the 31st anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike. This annual event is now in its second year, with the winners taking the Hunger Strike Memorial Cup home for the next twelve months.

As happened last year, Dublin’s Northside will host a team from the Southside of the city. The match will throw in at 3pm at Innisfail’s GAA club, Carrs Lane, Balgriffin, Dublin 17. The match will be followed by refreshments in the club bar. Anyone who is interested in playing on the day should email info@eirigi.org. All welcome.

Coolock Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes: The People’s Campaign

26/07/12

In September 2011 éirígí Dublin North-East assisted in the formation of the Coolock Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT). Since then the Coolock CAHWT has grown in strength and played an important role in building mass non-payment of the home tax in the area.

Tens of thousands of pieces of CAHWT literature have been delivered through the doors of homes across Coolock and Santry, while thousands more have been handed out at regular stalls. A series of very successful public meetings have been held in Santry, Kilmore, Priorswood and Darndale. And pickets outside the offices of 26-County government TDs have put the “We’re not paying the home tax!” message across loud and clear. In just under a year of constant activity the Coolock CAHWT has successfully agitated, educated, and organised.

The initial activities of the Coolock CAHWT saw it hold its first series of public meetings in venues in Kilmore, Santry and Darndale in Autumn/Winter 2011, in preparation for the Dublin government’s introduction of the home tax in January 2012. These initial meetings had good attendances, encouraging many local people became involved in the Coolock CAHWT.

With greater numbers of activists the Coolock CAHWT went on to sign up several hundred local people to the campaign through door to door recruitment in the area. Stalls have been held at local shopping centres, with the Coolock CAHWT stall at the Northside Shopping Centre becoming a regular fixture for engagement with local people.

With the introduction of the home tax in January 2012, and the subsequent scaremongering and bullying by the government, the level of activity of the Coolock CAHWT increased. In the build-up to the March 31 deadline for payment, another series of very successful public meetings was held in Kilmore, Priorswood and Darndale. Two large public meetings were held in the Kilmore Community Centre, which were addressed by éirígí activists, CAHWT TDs and local residents. Not only was the introduction of home and water taxes discussed, but also the wider failed economic policies which have resulted in nearly 500,000 people becoming unemployed and tens of thousands more emigrating.

At the Priorswood meeting last March, in the week of the publication of the Mahon Report, the corruption of the political establishment was discussed. The level of anger at Bertie Ahern & Co was very high to say the least. An attempt by the local Sinn Féin representative to undermine the non-payment campaign was quickly and politely dismissed. The CAHWT call for a full boycott of home and water taxes was fully supported by local people attending this meeting – there was no middle ground on the issue.

On March 31, the deadline for payment of the home tax, more than 10,000 people marched on the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Dublin, while more importantly the majority of homeowners had joined the boycott by refusing to pay the tax. Following this victory the Coolock CAHWT kept activity constant, with more public meetings in Santry and Darndale under the banner of “Keep Up the Boycott!” Pickets, which were held at local Labour TDs’ offices and clinics, received very positive support from passing pedestrians and motorists alike.

The strength and success of the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes in Coolock has been the fact that is has been largely driven by local people from within the community. At several meetings of the Coolock CAHWT the campaign has been referred to as a “People’s Campaign”. With the Dublin government attempting to introduce a property tax in 2013 and water tax in 2014, the CAHWT will need to build across the state on the successes to date. The Coolock CAHWT, now well organised with the support of large numbers of local people, will continue to resist these unjust and immoral taxes.

If you want to become active in the Campaign against Household and Water Taxes in Coolock or anywhere in the Twenty-Six Counties, please contact 1890 98 98 90.