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11 November 2004 Edition

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Building a radical youth movement

BY BARRY (Ógra Shinn Féin Six-County Organiser McCOLGAN

Ógra Shinn Féin has been restructured from the start of the year, and already 2004 has proved a very successful start in the re-building of the party's youth wing.

From our National Congress in January, the huge youth turnout at the Ard Fheis, the campaign for 'A President For All', the Aran Islands Youth Camp, the Danny Turnbull affair, the Demilitarisation Weekend in Omagh, not to mention the exploits of those painting 'Her Majesty's' postboxes green, Ógra has had a very busy and eventful year.

Prior to the re-structuring of Ógra, there had been an element of cynicism amongst the membership, largely due to the lack of communication and coordination, lack of national strategy, and of course, the complete lack of Ógra Shinn Féin activity.

But that has now all changed. Ógra has a thriving, revitalised activism, with a new structure, more communication, more co-ordination. The strategy is clear, Ógra is on the move.

Some areas have seen membership growth; areas like North Antrim and South Down have established new Ógra groups, and although some groups are still slowing moving, with a bit more assistance, direction and action they will be joining the boom in Ógra.

I have always believed in less talk and more action, and I think this must be mirrored right across the organisation. Republicans don't want to join a talk shop. There is nothing worse to instil apathy and disillusionment in people than a fruitless talk shop of a meeting. If you really want to inspire and promote activism and radical, revolutionary politics, then always come away from a meeting having something organised or achieved, even if it's a protest, a letter to your local press, a radio interview, organising a function, anything. Doing something is better than doing nothing.

Ógra Shinn Féin is vital in the future development of the republican struggle. While Sinn Féin is largely focused on fighting elections and raising finance, we have become the campaigning body focused on highlighting campaigns which advance the struggle and are instrumental in recruiting and inducting new members into the movement.

If you didn't have Ógra Shinn Féin you might not have the young confident elected reps like Pearse Doherty, Eoin Ó Broin, Matt Carthy and Toiréasa Ferris.

Ógra Shinn Féin gives young republicans a safe and comfortable platform where they can openly discuss, debate and develop amongst their peers, thus raising self-confidence and political awareness. It is much harder for a young person to do the same when joining a Sinn Féin cumann; it is harder to voice your views in front of veteran republicans, in fear that they might think you don't know what you're talking about.

Young republicans respect older comrades and have much to learn from them, but fear of not matching up to the struggle older republicans have had to endure can have a debilitating effect on the youth, and perhaps sap enthusiasm and confidence.

The way to avoid this is to build up Ógra cumainn in every area and let young people develop themselves among each other and that way, through discussion with each other, and through the freedom to develop and plan their own events, young people will see they have a role to play, and have much to give in Ireland's freedom struggle.

As Six-County Organiser of Ógra, along with the newly-elected officer board, we are rebuilding Ógra across the North, making it a more cohesive, tighter and much more effective organisation. Communication is key to this, and so, from January, there have been Six-County Ógra meetings happening every month. The purpose of these monthly meetings are to ensure that Ógra is working together as one unit, that groups are given leadership and that smaller groups are given assistance in their growth at a Cúige level. But the only way we can achieve this is if every Ógra group and area participates fully.

So if your area doesn't already have a Ógra group and you are interested in starting one up, contact me on 028 82 253040 or through email at [email protected].

Also for anyone interested in attending the next Sé Chontae Ógra Shinn Féin monthly meeting, it will be in Omagh Sinn Féin Offices this Saturday 13 November, beginning at 11am. The day will include publicity training, a political briefing and working out a plan of work for Six-County Ógra in the coming month.


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