Workers Solidarity Movement

The major development for the WSM of late has been the establishment of a Galway branch, which is now up and running and meeting fortnightly in the city. We have had contacts with various anarchists in the city for a number of years and are delighted to now have a core of people in Galway campaigning and promoting anarchism in the West.

Some of our new members from Con- nacht joined our Dublin based members at a pro-choice picket of the Youth Defence march in Dublin in June (see arti- cle elsewhere). We were also present on Pride in the city (again, see article elsewhere in this edition). WSM supported the efforts of the Freedom Flotilla to break the Israeli siege of Gaza and we attended protests following the sabotage of the Irish boat on the flotilla by Israel at port in Greece, as well as outside the Gaiety theatre before a performance of Riverdance aimed at encouraging the company to boycott their proposed tour of Israel. Elsewhere on the streets, our members helped organise for a “Real Democracy Now protest to the Dail in July. We also had a presence at the Shell 2 Sea day of action in Mayo on July 29th (see http://bit.ly/pzPAvr for more on the days activities)

July also marked the 75th anniversary of the start of the Spanish Civil War and we held a bookstall at an Eirigi commemorative event in the Teachers Cub in Dublin, focusing an Irish involvement in the anti-Franco alliance, where speakers included the noted historians Harry Owens and Emmett O’Connor.

Down South, our Cork based members have also been involved in Real Democracy Now activity in the city as well as ongoing Independent Workers Union organising campaigns (see article elsewhere). Our Solidarity Books store hosted two book launches during the summer, Conor McCabe’s “Sins of the Father” and Tommy McKearney’s “The Provisional IRA: From Insurrection to Parliament”. The regular series of film nights at that venue continued while our members also participated in a Solidarity Books fundraising climb of Carrantouhill on August 6th.

Looking ahead to the autumn, the campaign against the proposed household charge will gather momentum. The WSM is already involved in laying the groundwork for this (see http://bit. ly/pqMhGV) but we will need as many people as possible both supporting and active in the campaign if it is to succeed. If you are interested in helping out or in learning anything else about our work or activities, then get in touch!

For further information on the above and other breaking news, check out
http://www.wsm.ie

From Workers Solidarity 123 Sept/Oct 2011