New Ógra national organiser

Mickey Bravender from Monaghan has recently been appointed National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin. He dropped into the An Phoblacht offices this week to talk about his plans for Ógra.

Mickey has been involved in republican politics for the past six years or so, starting out as a member of Na Fianna Éireann in his home town of Monaghan. He credits his mother for his interest. She was reared in England and was shocked when she moved back to Ireland to find that people hadn't embraced what was going on in the North.

"I always knew I'd get involved in Ógra at some stage," he says. "After taking a year out in England I joined Ógra after a meeting with Brian McKenna in Monaghan," says Mickey. "I was interested in the activist outlook and the international dimension, such as the solidarity contacts with the Basque youth movement.

"The first and most important priority," he says, "is to organise an Ógra national convention before the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. It has been a couple of years since the last convention and a lot of Ógra members have been frustrated by the delay but we are pushing ahead now for a date in mid-January. Ógra groups should start planning now in terms of making nominations, and drafting motions and policy statements. Registration forms and suchlike will be sent out around the Christmas period.

"The conference is very important in terms of coming together and debating, but the social side is just as necessary, I feel, as it gives young people from across the country the chance to meet each other and forge bonds.

"It is a great honour for me to be placed in such a position of trust. From my experience of Ógra I think it is important that we strike a natural balance between the colleges and young people outside third level. The main campaign for the year ahead, given the end of Mary McAleese's term, will be to campaign for voting rights in Presidential elections for all Irish citizens, North and South. Young people are also annoyed at the slow pace of demilitarisation and that will also be an ongoing and vigorous campaign.

"I think Ógra in general could benefit from the Monaghan model. We were always given great support by the local Sinn Féin organisation and were encouraged to be active in the cumainn and party structures. I will be working to see that Ógra benefits from the experience that is in the Sinn Féin organisation. I will also be working hard to see that Ógra is adequately resourced."