éirigí Ard Fheis 2009

national | miscellaneous | press release Thursday May 14, 2009 13:48 by Éamann Mac Mánais - éirigí macmanais at gmail dot com 0044 7780639349

This Saturday and Sunday [May 16-17] sees éirigí's Ard Fheis 2009 in the West County Hotel, Chapelizod, Dublin and the annual James Connolly commemoration in Arbour Hill Cemetery. The socialist republican party’s Ard Fheis will begin on Saturday with debateson language, culture, political prisoners, international solidarity and socio-economic issues.

éirigí chairperson, Brian Leeson will make a keynote speech on the development
of the party and the Campaign for a British Withdrawal. Other guest speakers to
be confirmed.

Speaking before the Ard Fheis, Leeson said: "This is éirigí's third Ard Fheis
and will mark the steady growth of the party. This gathering holds particular
significance for socialist republicans, coming as it does on the 90th
anniversary of the 1st Dáil's Democratic Programme, the 100th anniversary of
Fianna Éireann and in the week of the anniversary of James Connolly’s
execution.

“éirigí has been highly active on a number of issues over the past 12 months and
are now, more than ever, a radical alternative to the right-wing politics of the
establishment, which has led the people of Ireland into a cul- de –sac of
economic crisis and continuing occupation.

"The party is looking forward to the upcoming debates and urges all socialist
republicans to mobilise against inequality, exploitation and the British
occupation over the next 12 months."

éirigí spokespeople will be available for comment and interviews at the Ard
Fheis venue on Saturday, contact the above press officers for further
information or confirmation of attendance.

éirígí’s fourth-annual James Connolly commemoration will also
take place on Saturday. The commemoration will commence at 3.30pm in Dublin's
Arbour Hill Cemetery. Breandán MacCionnaith will be the main speaker.
Speakers at previous commemorations have included Bernadette McAliskey, the
veteran civil rights activist, and Tommy McKearney, the former H-Block hunger
striker and trade union activist, as well as éirígí's Brian Leeson and Daithí
Mac An Mháistir. The commemoration is éirígí's national annual commemorative
event to honour all of those who have sacrificed their lives in the fight for
Irish freedom.

éirígí is an Ireland-wide, socialist republican political
party, formed in 2006 to provide a vehicle for the national, social and
economic liberation of the people of Ireland.