Ógra Shinn Féin - Arisen Youth on a Giants Cause

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday August 23, 2005 13:13 by Barry McNally - Ógra Shinn Féin www.osf6county at yahoo dot com 4 - 5 James Street Omagh Co. Tyrone 028 82 25 30 40

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This article outlines a number of events which Ógra Shinn Féin were involved in recently in the North Antrim area

Ógra Shinn Féin- Arisen Youth on a Giants Cause.

North Antrim was the setting for the latest Ógra Shinn Féin weekend of events, which took place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August. The Weekend began early on Saturday morning with a visit to the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, just outside Ballintoy. Over 40 Ógra activists took part in the hike and it was enjoyed by all.

Following this Ógra converged back at the Hostel to hear Eoin O’Broin, himself a former national organiser of Ógra gave an interactive talk on Irish republicanism and socialism. The discussion gave others the chance to describe what worlds like ‘Irish Republicanism’, ‘Socialism’ and ‘capitalism’ meant to them.

Following Eoins talk Mickey Culbert, who is the current manager of the Antrim senior Gaelic football team, gave a talk on his life in the Irish republican struggle. He spoke on a number of different issues such as his time in Jail and the current phase of the Irish Republican struggle. Mickey, who now works with Coiste na nIarchimí also outlined the many barriers, which remain in place for Ex POWs. He pointed out that Ex POW s still face discrimination in Employment etc due to their so-called ‘Criminal Records’.

Following the talks Ógra members were taken to the Giants Causeway on the North Antrim Coast. Standing on (according to legend) the handiwork of Finn McCool you can see the Mull Of Kentyre on the coast of Scotland, just beyond Rathlin Island. The day was clear and sure enough the Scottish cost was clear to be seen.

Following the talks Ógra held their national executive meeting, which dealt with issues such as the upcoming fresher fayres in the colleges and education institutions through Ireland. Amongst others issues, which were discussed, were the upcoming trip to the Basque country by Ógra Shinn Féin to build and maintain links with the Basque youth group Segi, The All-Ireland Agenda and The upcoming Gaelic football blitz in Castlerea Jail due to take place on Saturday 27th August.

Speaking following the weekend National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin Mickey Bravender commended the Ógra Shinn Féin group in North Antrim. “This weekend is a credit to the organisers of it, such a weekend of events would have been unimaginable a few years ago, and so it is a credit to the Ógra Shinn Féin group for producing a weekend of such high calibre. I Think I can speak for every Ógra member visiting North Antrim this weekend when I say that the hospitality and treatment was of the highest standard throughout the weekend”
ENDS