14 May 2009 Edition

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Sinn Féin mayor hosts civic reception for trade union centenary

CIVIC RECEPTION: SIPTU President Jack O’Connor and Sinn Féin Mayor of Monaghan Matt Carthy

CIVIC RECEPTION: SIPTU President Jack O’Connor and Sinn Féin Mayor of Monaghan Matt Carthy

AN initiative by the Sinn Féin Mayor of Monaghan, Matt Carthy, saw the centenary of the founding of the Irish Transport & General Workers’ Union marked with a civic reception by Monaghan County Council for the trade union movement attended by most of the unions organised in the border county alongside the ITGWU’s succesor, SIPTU.
The event, on 5 May, just after the May Day Bank Holiday, was attended by SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor and local Dáil deputies Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Sinn Féin) and Seymour Crawford (Fine Gael). County councillors there included Seán Conlon, Noel Keelan, Pat Treanor, Jackie Crowe and Brenda McAnespie (Sinn Féin) and Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael).  Town Councillors Gene Duffy (Ballybay) and Malachy Trainor (Monaghan Town) were also present.
Sinn Féin Mayor of County Monaghan Matt Carthy said it was “entirely appropriate” that the local authority officially acknowledged the trade union membership in County Monaghan as the ITGWU leader James Connolly’s parents came from County Monaghan.
But Matt Carthy made it clear that the civic event wasn’t only about remembering the past – it’s also about acknowledging the work that unions do today, when they are needed by workers as much as ever.
“Other unions also celebrate centenaries and other special anniversaries this year and this small event is a tribute to them all and, more importantly, to the men and women of County Monaghan who defend the workers of our county on a daily basis and who contribute, in a very quiet way, to the development of society.
“I hope, following on from this event, that Monaghan County Council will work closely with our trade unions to acknowledge further milestones as they arise in the future.
Carthy also noted the anniversary of the death of Hunger Striker Bobby Sands on 5 May 1981 and the support given by trade unionists and other workers to the political priosners in Armagh and the H-Blocks “and ensuring the election of Bobby’s comrade, Kieran Doherty, as TD for Cavan/Monaghan. Go raibh míle maith agaibh o shin.”

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