Ógra SF descend on Belfast for International Weekend

antrim | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday August 15, 2006 15:40 by Óg agus Neamhspleach - Ógra Shinn Féin osfnational at yahoo dot ie

Ógra Shinn Féin held an international youth in struggle weekend in Belfast last weekend (11th– 13th August). Ógra activists travelled from all over Ireland to be present at the weekend, while international comrades from Colombia, Catalonia, The Basque Country and the Socialist Labour Party Youth of Britian also travelled to take part in the weekend.

A Photo report of the weekend will follow.

Friday saw a panel discussion on the issue of ‘Youth Against Imperialism’ with Gerry Adams opening proceedings and inputs from Colombian, English, Irish, Catalan, and Basque Youth.

Saturday started with a political tour of the Falls Road and Milltown Cemetery. A local person then detailed the history of the political murals on the falls road are of west Belfast.

Following this Ógra activist joined a protest at the city hall in support of the Lebanese people and against Israeli imperialism. A large contingent of Ogra activists was evident in the crowd and a number of Ógra groups had banners condemning the actions of Israel.

After the protest Ogra activist then listened to the story of the hunger strike of 1981 by a number of leading republican. Sean Crowe, Caral Ní Chuilin, Martina Anderson and former Hunger-striker Patrick Sheehan gave their person stories of the hunger strike of 1981 and what it meant to them. The event was brought to an end by a rendition of ‘Song For Marcella’ sung by Eugene Garvey from Ógra Shinn Féin in Dundalk.

The theme of the 1981 hunger strike was continued with the launch of a new book published by Ógra Shinn Féin on the hunger strike of 1981.Awaiting the lark tells the story of the hunger strike of 198 from a youthful perspective.

There was also a banner making workshop to get activists prepared for the National Hungerstrike on Sunday, and to finish of Saturday night ÓSF activists attended the Massive rebel night in the Devenish with music by Shebeen.