Dublin Sinn Féin Blog

Dublin Cúige elected new chairperson

2009-08-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Delegates from Sinn Féin Átha Cliath met at a recent comhairle cúige meeting and elected a new cathaoirleach.
Eoin O'Broin was elected unanimously by the delegates present.
Outgoing cathaoirleach Aengus O'Snodaigh TD, stood down to concentrate on his constituency work in Dublin south central. The comhairle cúige thanked Aengus for his guidance and work to date and welcomed Eoin into the new position.

To see an article written in An Phoblacht about Eoin's election, copy and paste the link -> http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/38579

2009-08-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been very busy. Since Friday 31st July, Sinn Féin activists in Dublin have been engaged in a series of protests and demonstrations supporting the brave workers of Thomas Cook.

Thomas Cook are a multi-national company. They decided to pull out of Ireland recently, leaving 70 workers unemployed. The redundancy package the company were offering the workers was dismal, it was mean. The Thomas Cook CEO Manny Fontenla-Novoa last year paid himself a handsome bonus of a mere £7,000,000. The Thomas Cook workers were seeking a lot less.

On Monday 3rd August approx 30 Sinn Féin activists descended on the Thomas Cook shop on Grafton Street, and in usual form were colourful and loud.
Councillor Dessie Ellis and TD Aengus O'Snodaigh were also present to show solidarity with the workers.

An amount of us stayed on into the night with the workers. We were inside the shop with other members of the PBP Alliance and gave assistance wherever we could, Councillor Larry O'Toole and activist Niall Connolly also paid a late night visit to offer their support, both Larry and Niall are no strangers to radical action. The mood of the staff was positive and the workers were upbeat. We spoke with the TSSA co-ordinators, Pat and Jim and then we left to dish out leaflets organising the protest for the morning ahead.

Unfortunately before the morning broke, and as we predicted, the forces of this capitalist state moved in. Approx 150 Gardai forcibly removed the protesters from outside the shop, cordoned off the street and smashed their way into the building. They arrested everyone present. Pregnant women weren't spared.

When morning did eventually break, Sinn Féin activists arrived to the Bridewell Garda station and maintained a high presence throughout the day, both inside and outside the high court. Councillor Criona Ni Dhaliagh was also in attendance, as was Sinn Féin TD Aengus O'Snodaigh.

Eventually, and after five days of protest, the workers were released under orders that they do not return to the Thomas Cook shop building.
They walked out to a tumultuous cheer from supporters from various left wing parties and groups, along with Sinn Féin stood UNITE, SIPTU,IWU SP, SWP, and friends and family of the workers.

Well done to all those activists who put in the time to campaign on behalf of those workers, who made a very principled stand against very unprincipled employers.

The left is truly awake.

IPSC Protest Rally

2009-07-02T02:57:00.000-07:00

An Chéadaoin 1ú lá na Iúil, Sinn Féin Átha Cliath rallied along side the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign at the GPO i lár na gcathair.

Cen fáth?
Reports came in to IPSC that the Free Gaza boat 'Spirit of Humanity' had been boarded by the Israeli Navy, and that all passengers and crew have been arrested, and that the supplies they were bringing (medicine, toys, olive trees and cement) had been confiscated.

Among those kidnapped are two Irish citizens - Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and the ship's first mate Derek Graham (a member of the IPSC). Also kidnapped is former US Congressperson Cynthia McKinney.

The team were kidnapped in international waters while trying to enter Gaza. There has been a lot of media coverage in the recent past about Somali Pirates - well this is an act of Israeli State Piracy, an attack on an unarmed boat of human rights advocates and the capture of urgently needed supplies.

We encourage all Republicans to keep up to date with the work of the IPSC by logging on to their website www.ipsc.ie

Sinn Féin Party Political Broadcast

2009-05-22T07:44:00.001-07:00

Dublin Sinn Féin commemorates the anniversary of Bobby Sands' Death

2009-05-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

Bobby Sands - The People's Own MP - Christy Moore

2009-05-04T09:15:00.001-07:00

Remembering Bobby Sands

2009-05-04T09:10:00.001-07:00

In Memory of the 1981 Hunger Strikers

2009-05-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

Dublin Sinn Féin EU election and Local Election Launch 30 April 2009

2009-04-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Save 16 Moore Street

2009-04-19T11:24:00.001-07:00

Dublin Sinn Féin members hand out free copies of the 1916 Proclamation

2009-04-12T00:12:00.000-07:00

2009-04-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

Vote Mary Lou McDonald No. 1

2009-04-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

Dublin Sinn Féin Easter 1916 Commemorative Events 2009

2009-04-02T01:23:00.000-07:00

Caith Lil na Cásca
in ómós do Laochra marbha na hÉireann
Honour Ireland’s Patriot Dead
Wear an Easter Lily

Dublin Easter 1916 Commemorative Events 2009

Main Dublin Easter Commemoration

Easter Sunday 12 April

Assemble 1.30pm

Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square

Parade to GPO, O’Connell St.

Main speaker: Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin.

Central events and local commemorations

Monday 6 April 7.30pm,

44 Parnell Square

Film presentation and talk on 1916 Rising

Wednesday 8 April 2pm

Gates of Leinster House, Kildare St.

South City Walking Tour & visit to Leinster House

Thursday 9 April

Public Meeting and Debate

"Happiness and prosperity of the whole nation"?

Economic Crisis – The Way Forward

7.30pm, Wynn’s Hotel, Abbey St.

Arthur Morgan TD, Sinn Féin Economy spokesperson & guest speakers

Friday 10 April 12 noon

Arbour Hill Historic Walking Tour 1pm

Commemoration Ceremony Arbour Hill,

Graves of 1916 leaders

Speaker: Sinn Féin Cllr. Séamus McGrattan

2.30pm City Centre Walking Tour

Meet Sinn Féin Shop, 58 Parnell Square

Saturday 11 April

Dublin South Central Commemorations

Ballyfermot: Assemble 11 am Sinn Féin Office,

Ballyfermot Road,

parade to Markievicz Park,

Speaker: Sinn Féin Cllr. Louise Minihan.

Crumlin: Assemble 2pm Errigal Field,

parade to Eamonn Ceannt Park,

Speaker: Sinn Féin Cllr. Ray McHugh.

Easter Sunday 12 April

Glasnevin Cemetery 1916 Plot 12 noon

Wreath-laying Ceremony

Easter Monday 13 April

Dún Laoghaire Assemble

2pm Bakers Corner

Parade to Deans Grange Cemetery

Dé Sathairn 18 Aibreán

Cuairt go dtí Scoil Éanna,
Musaem an Phiarsaigh,

Ráth Fearnáin 2.30pm

Saturday 18 April

Visit to St. Enda’s,

Pearse Museum,

Rathfarnham.

“The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally.” - The 1916 Proclamation

A pdf of the Easter Commemorations in Dublin can be downloaded at

http://www.sinnfein.ie/

Hands Off Dublin Bus

2009-03-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

Saturday 28 March Dublin Sinn Féin held a protest outside Dublin Head Quarters in O'Connell Street.

The NBRU and SIPTU have voted to reject the proposals put forward by the Dublin Bus company. Members of SIPTU and the NBRU were said to be concerned about the implications of taking 120 buses out of the fleet, changes to work practices and job security.

Union sources suggest that the company is likely to implement its original cost saving measures from 29 March, including plans to make 160 newly-recruited drivers redundant.

Pig Out at Irish Nationwide

2009-03-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

Sinn Féin members took part in some direct action/street theatre at Irish Nationwide's head office on Grand Parade on Tuesday 24th March.

This was in light of the recent news that Nationwide cheif executive Michael Fingleton received a €1 million bonus after the bank was bailed out by the 26 co government and tax payers money. Fingleton also received a €28 million pension deal.

Sinn Féin members went straight to Fingletons head office and caused a bit of a stir in the reception area. This was caught on tape and TV3 ran with the coverage but failed to say who we were!

This action resulted in three Sinn Féin members being detained by the Gardaí who detained them for trespassing. However when the Gardaí were reminded that we the tax payers actually owned this bank and the property, they agreed and let them off!

Job Creation Campaign - Time for Action

2009-03-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

In January and February 1,000 people lost their jobs every day. Unemployment is spiraling out of control. The government needs a three-year plan to hold on to or create the 1,000 jobs a day that are being lost. This must include stopping job losses, creating new jobs, keeping people in education and stimulating consumer spending.

Sinn Féin held a day of action in towns and cities across the country on Saturday March 14th and over the coming weeks will be demanding action on the unemployment crisis. The day marked the beginning of a series of actions and launches around Sinn Féin’s proposals to get Ireland back towork, develop the all-island economy, public sector spending and public finance savings. Sinn Fein Vice President Mary Lou McDonald Dublin MEP joined party activists and representatives outside the GPO on O’Connell Street Dublin where they delivered thousands of leaflets with the call – Time for Action. A series of actions also took place across the capital city and throughout the country.

The document 'Getting Ireland back to work' can be downloaded at www.sinnfein.ie

GPO O'Connell Street

Thomas Street

Ballyfermot
Ballyfermot
Ballyfermot

Crumlin

Blanchardstown

CPSU rally 18 Feb 2009

2009-03-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

The Civil, and Public Services Union (CPSU) staged a demonstration outside the Dáil at lunchtime on Wednesday, 18 February over the pension levy. They were joined by Sinn Féin members.

Sinn Féin call for Irish to get top billing on street signs

2009-03-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

On Sunday last, Sinn Féin activists changed the street sign on Dublin's main thoroughfare of O'Connell Street to its correct title of Sráid Uí Chonaill.

Tá Sinn Féin tar éis tús a chur le feachtas chun an Ghaeilge a bheith mar phríomh-theanga ar na comharthaí bóthair, mar chuid dá chlár do Sheachtain na Gaeilge.

Inné, chuir Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Teachta Dála ó Bhaile Átha Cliath, agus Ruadhán Mac Aodháin, iarrathóir sna toghcháin áitiúla i lár na cathrach thuaidh, comhartha bóthair Gaeilge in airde idir Sráid Uí Chonaill agus Siúlán Bachelor.

Tá an Comhairleoir Críona Ní Dháiligh chun rún a chur ós comhair Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath leis chun an Ghaeilge a bheith mar phríomh-theanga ar chomharthaí bóthair na cathrach

Ag labhairt dó tar éis na hócáide, dúirt Mac Aodháin: “Tá Sinn Féin ag céiliúradh Seachtain na Gaeilge. Deis atá innti chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.

"D'iarr muid ar an Dáil 50% de imeachtaí na Dála an tseachtain seo chugainn a rith as Gaeilge. Ta muid ag lorg freisin go dtógfar ceisteanna an Taoisigh as Ghaeilge.

“Tá Sinn Fein ag lorg cothrom na féinne don Ghaeilge ar na chomharthaí bóthair leis agus cuirfear rún faoin cheist seo ós comhair an Comhairle Cathrach an tseachtain seo chugainn.”

Maidir le cúrsaí oideachais, dúirt Mac Aodháin “Ba chóir go gcuirfeadh an Rialtas stop láithreach leis an ionsaí atá a dhéanamh aige ar an tumoideachas Gaeilge.”

Sinn Fein has just launched a campaign to give Irish priority on street signs, as part of its programme for Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Dublin Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Ruadhán MacAodhán, the party’s local election candidate in Dublin North Central, have erected an Irish language street sign just above the main signpost on O’Connell Street, at the junction of Bachelor’s Walk and O’Connell Street.

Dublin Sinn Féin Councillor Críona Ní Dháiligh is to put forward a motion at a meeting of Dublin City Council to make Irish the leading language on all bilingual street signs in the city.

Speaking after yesterday's street-naming, Ruadhán MacAodhán said Sinn Féin was celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge and taking the opportunity to highlight the Irish language.

"We have called for an increase in the use of Irish in the Dáil, proposing that 50% of all of next week’s proceeding should take place through the medium of Irish. We have hope that the Taoiseach’s questions will be taken in Irish.

“We are calling for Irish to be given priority on all bilingual street signs and a motion to this effect will be put to the City Council next week.

“We are also calling on the Government to honour Seachtain na Gaeilge by ending its attack on all-Irish early immersion teaching.”

2009-03-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

Final Nail Party Collection

2009-03-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

On Thursday 19 February, Dublin Sinn Féin members and Ógra Shinn Féin members held a mock collection for the poor bankers. Video of the collection can be seen here

Dublin Sinn Féín day of action in support of Dublin Bus Workers

2009-03-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Dublin Sinn Féin took part in a day of action on February 28th in support of the Dublin Bus workers who face redundancies and the reduction in public services.

Speaking at the time Sinn Féín Vice President and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said “The decision to withdraw 120 buses from the capital city’s public transport service in incomprehensible, particularly in the context that it is happening under the Green Party’s watch. This is a bad decision for workers, the people of Dublin, for public service delivery, for the environment and for the city’s sustainability.

“The government’s inaction on this issue has been shocking but not surprising. Let’s not forget that Dublin’s dependency on car usage has been created by decades of bad public transport policy and underinvestment by Fianna Fáil. Dublin should have a first class integrated public transport system that is the envy of Europe. We don’t and this is because successive Fianna Fáil governments have been short on vision, leadership and a real commitment to Dublin’s commuters and businesses alike. And lets not cod ourselves that Fine Gael would do it any differently. The day the cuts were announced Fine Gael were fast out of the traps calling for further privatisation of Dublin’s bus services. Privatisation of public services doesn’t work. Just look at Eircom’s failure to deliver broadband around the country and the negative impact of privatisation on our health service.

“But this can change. Make your voice heard. Demand that the cuts in Dublin Bus be reversed. Demand that government deliver sustainable integrated public transport for the people of Dublin. We deserve better.”