Saor Éire 2011 – A gathering for socialists and republicans

[C. Flower]

Received from eirigi

Saor Éire 2011 – A gathering for socialists and republicans

Venue: Ashling Hotel (Parkgate Street, across from Heuston Station)
Date: Saturday, May 7

They think they have bought half of us off with the withdrawal of the British garrison in Ireland to barracks and fooled the rest of us into believing that bail outs and tax breaks for the rich are somehow in the interests of working people.

However the fools they have left us armed with something far more dangerous than any bullet or ounce of explosives.

The historical legacy and political ideas of James Connolly should act as a guide to the actions that republicans and socialists should be engaged in.

Ninety-five years after the execution of Irish socialist republican James Connolly, Ireland remains under the yoke of capitalism and imperialism.

On Saturday, May 7, éirígí has organised a gathering where the way forward for the national liberation and class struggles in Ireland today can debated and discussed.

‘Saor Éire’ in the 1930s was central to the project of radicalising a generation of activists and it is fitting then that it will today be the title for a gathering which hopes over the coming years to achieve the same end.

‘Saor Éire’ – A gathering for socialists and republicans

10am – The resources of Ireland for the people of Ireland?
The giveaway of Irish natural and the struggle to reclaim them. Speakers: Maura Harrington (Shell to Sea) and more.

11am – James Connolly – Idol or Ideologue for Irish Republicans?
Speakers: Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh (author) and Dr Brian Kelly (lecturer, QUB).
A discussion on whether Irish republicans only see James Connolly in terms of his involvement in the 1916 Rising or seriously use his writings and actions over his lifetime as a guide to their political commitments.

12 Noon – Fighting back against the EU/IMF cuts
Speakers include éirígí's Daithí Mac An Mháistir, Pepe Gutiérrez from Latin America Solidarity Centre and Brendan Ogle of Unite the Union.

1pm – Break

1.30pm – No Queen Here – Why we oppose monarchy and imperialism
Brian Leeson of éirígí, Roger Cole of PANA and others will take part in a discussion on the imminent arrival of the commander of British military and why imperialism in Ireland and abroad must be resisted.

3.30pm – James Connolly Commemoration, Arbour Hill cemetery.

[Apjp]

might go. we'll see.

[antiestablishmentarian]

Seems more republican than socialist to me. In both states on this island, the working class is facing unprecedented and historic attacks, to destroy the welfare state and break the remnants of trade union power. This seems to me far more relevant for a discussion than talking about the Queens visit.

[C. Flower]

Seems more republican than socialist to me. In both states on this island, the working class is facing unprecedented and historic attacks, to destroy the welfare state and break the remnants of trade union power. This seems to me far more relevant for a discussion than talking about the Queens visit.

It's only one item on the day's agenda antie. The rest is on Ireland's natural resources, Connolly, the IMF/EU and the cuts.

It seems to me that there isn't a ready made party that has all the answers, but there is a lot of debate going on.

I recently went to a ULA meeting addressed by Joe Higgins. There was no mention whatsoever from the platform of what the theoretical base would be for the party - the words Marxism and socialism weren't mentioned, although they were by a number of people in the audience.

Eirigi's weakness seems to me that they don't appear to grasp the seriousness of the world economic crisis and are over reliant on Connolly, who had very serious limitations. Although I could be wrong there.

I think that eirigi's agenda on Saturday - coming out of socialists in the republican movement - is worth engaging with. I also agree with getting stuck in to the debate generated in the ULA.

The whole panoply of Royal clap trap is being rolled out at the moment to anaesthetise peoples' brains while the Welfare State, rights and living standards are wiped out. I think it's right that this should be opposed, and am pleased that people in the UK demonstrated (or tried to) on the day of the wedding.

[antiestablishmentarian]

Yes, but it's 2 hours out of a 5 hour conference- I agree about the need for a theoretical basis to be discussed and put forward explicitly, but I just think this is overdoing it and that the Queens visit is a sideshow from the real issues.

[C. Flower]

Yes, but it's 2 hours out of a 5 hour conference- I agree about the need for a theoretical basis to be discussed and put forward explicitly, but I just think this is overdoing it and that the Queens visit is a sideshow from the real issues.

Not 2 hours only on that, if you look at it -
" and why imperialism in Ireland and abroad must be resisted."

Surely not a sideshow issue?

Roger Cole seems to me to be an odd choice of speaker though. I'm also not too keen on visits to graves, without any disrespect to Connolly.

It comes down, also, to how much opportunity there is for discussion. Imo, there is more than enough there in what is on the agenda to make discussion worth while.