Labour Youth
Labour Youth Óige an Lucht Oibre | |
---|---|
Chairperson | Adrian McCarthy |
Founded | 1979 |
Ideology | Democratic Socialism Social democracy Trade Unionism Feminism Pro-Europeanism |
Mother party | Labour Party |
International affiliation | International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) |
European affiliation | Young European Socialists (YES) |
Newspaper | The Left Tribune |
Website | www.labouryouth.ie |
Labour Youth is the youth wing of the Labour Party of Ireland. Membership is open to those aged from 16 to 30 years old.[1][2]
History
1979–2000
Labour Youth succeeded the Young Labour League as a full section of the Party in 1979, under Party Leader Frank Cluskey. Members were active in the election of presidential candidate Mary Robinson, forming a base of membership during the campaign that would provide the backbone of leadership within the organisation for years to come. They provided leadership to the National Youth Council of Ireland and in 1992 were among the founding members of the European Council of Socialist Youth. In 1999, along with the main party, Labour Youth merged with Democratic Left Youth.
2000–present
The Spring 2007 issue of Labour Youth's internal publication, The Left Tribune, shows support for abortion and same sex marriage, along with contributions from Michael D. Higgins.[3] In the 2007 General Election Labour Youth opposed a pre-election pact with the centre-right party Fine Gael. Also in 2007, it supported the Venezuelan revolution.[4] In 2009, Labour Youth criticised the then government's attitude to education.[5] The Autumn 2007 issue of The Left Tribune promotes Labour Youth's support of Cuba and its endorsement of the International Brigade in Spain, with then Labour Youth Recruitment Officer Enda Duffy featuring in a photograph of a panel at a commemoration event and the noted naming of the UCD Labour Youth branch in honour of Michael O'Riordan.[6] Also in 2009, it collaborated with CYM (linked with the Communist Party) on environmental campaigns.[7] The group undertook an active and visible role in the 2011 Irish General Election in support of young candidates such as Ciara Conway, Patrick Nulty and Derek Nolan. They later called on the Party to abandon talks on forming a coalition government with Fine Gael, describing the proposal as undemocratic.[8]
Since the turn of the 2000s, Labour Youth has run campaigns on repealing the 8th Amendment,[9][10] against sexism,[11][12][13] voting rights for 16 and 17 year olds,[14] workers rights,[15] same sex marriage,[16] sexual consent,[17] ending Direct Provision,[18] along with other issues related to students and young people. Labour Youth also takes an active role in supporting young Labour candidates in elections.
In 2015 Labour Youth released a policy paper on ending Zero Hour contracts.[19] In 2016, it released a document opposing homophobia, transphobia and sexism.[20] In 2017, Labour Youth released a document proposing state funded tuition for higher level education.[21] In December 2017, actions by Labour Youth in Maynooth had been condemned as “juvenile” and “disrespectful” after ‘F*** the Pope’ was posted twice from their official social media account. An image of the Communications Officer of Labour Youth, Liam Haughey, was posted with him holding a sign which read “I am pro-choice because… F*** the Pope”. The Labour Party released a statement acknowledging the posts, saying they were brought to the party’s General Secretary but had since been removed.[22]
In late 2018, in the midst of Ireland's housing crisis, Labour Youth distanced itself from claims by the Labour Party leadership that direct actions such as occupations of buildings were not a valid form of political protest. This was followed by then Labour Youth Chairperson Chloe Manahan stating "Civil disobedience and protest have been core to this movement since its inception. It is crucial that Labour activists feel supported and empowered to do what is moral, just and right – not simply what is allowed”.[23]
Labour Youth played an active role in the 2019 Irish local elections supporting several of their members who ran for local councils. Former Chair Kevin Donoghue was elected to Dublin City Council while former Secretary Ciara Galvin was elected to Kildare County Council.[24][25] As of its website update in 2019, Labour Youth said that it "recognises the importance" of the proposed Che Guevara statue in Galway City.[26] Labour Youth members canvassed for UK Labour in the 2019 UK General Election.[27] In 2019, Labour Youth reiterated its support of the EU.[28][29][30]
Following his election at the Labour Youth National Conference in Waterford City, which was held on the weekend before 25 November 2019, Cormac Ó Braonáin was Labour Youth's Chairperson until his death on 15 December 2019, having been struck dead by a Luas (tram) whilst cycling home from a protest.[31][32][33][34][35] Adrian McCarthy is the current chair of Labour Youth and was elected in March 2020.[36][37]
Structure
As a prominently student organisation, Labour Youth has long had a presence in many universities and institutes of technology across Ireland. Originally confined to the larger and more prestigious universities such as Trinity, UCD and UCC, in more recent years efforts have been made to expand.[38]
Labour Youth is currently represented in:
- Trinity College, Dublin
- University College Dublin
- Dublin City University
- Dublin Institute of Technology
- University College Cork
- Maynooth University
- Institute of Technology, Carlow
- National University of Ireland, Galway
- Cork Institute of Technology
Constituency level:
- Dublin South West
- Dublin South Central
- Dublin Central
- Dublin Bay North
- Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
- Dublin West
- Dublin Mid-West
- Kildare North
- Kildare South
- Tipperary
- Wexford
- Wicklow
- Cork East
- Carlow-Kilkenny
- Cork South Central
- Cork North Central
Executive
The National Youth Executive (NYE) is responsible for the day-to-day running of Labour Youth. Officers are elected to the NYE at Youth Conference, held in November each year.[39][40] The Labour Party Youth & Development Officer, currently Aideen Blackwood, is an ex-officio, non-voting member of the NYE.
Current Executive
Executive Position | Officer |
---|---|
National Chairperson | Adrian McCarthy |
Secretary-Treasurer | Victor Keane |
Campaigns Officer | Cian Kelly-Lyth |
Communications Officer | David Monaghan |
Policy & Education Officer | Jack Merriman |
Women's and Trans Officer | Sarah Noville |
International Officer | Aoife Ryan |
Membership Development Officer | Oisín Tiernan |
Former National Chairs
Leader | Term |
---|---|
John Kelleher | 1979–1980 |
Michael Martin | 1980–1983 |
Ray McLoughlin | 1983–1985 |
Michael Barry | 1985–1988 |
Vincent Byrne | 1988–1989 |
Paddy Glackin | 1989–1991 |
Edward Dawson | 1991–1993 |
Desmond Cullen | 1993–1994 |
Fearghal O'Boyle | 1994–1996 |
David Leech | 1996–1997 |
Mark Garrett | 1997–1999 |
Cian O'Callaghan | 1999–2001 |
Alan Kelly | 1999–2001 |
Áine Morris | 2001–2002 |
Rebecca Moynihan | 2002–2004 |
Donal Lyons | 2004–2005 |
Graham Ó Maonaigh | 2005–2006 |
Patrick Nulty | 2006–2007 |
Enda Duffy | 2007–2008 |
Gary Honer | 2008–2009 |
Rory Geraghty | 2009–2010 |
Colm Lawless | 2010–2011 |
Conor Ryan | 2011–2012 |
Aideen Carberry | 2012–2013 |
Ciarán Garrett | 2013–2014 |
Jack Eustace | 2014–2015 |
Grace Williams | 2015–2016 |
Kevin Donoghue | 2016–2017 |
Chloe Manahan | 2017–2018 |
Patrick Ahern | 2018–2019 |
Cormac Ó Braonáin | 2019 |
Tom Johnson Summer School
The Tom Johnson Summer School is held annually in July. It is named after Tom Johnson, the first leader of the Labour Party and the only leader to date to serve as the leader of the opposition in Dáil Éireann. At Tom Johnson, panel discussions are held on a number of topics, with speakers from within and outside of the Party.
Publications
Labour Youth publishes The Left Tribune on a regular basis.
References
- ^ [1]. Labour Youth (official website).
- ^ "NYCI".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Labour Youth (2007), Left Tribune, Vol. 2, No. 5, Labour Youth, retrieved 2020-06-18
- ^ Ireland, Hands Off Venezuela-. "Irish Labour Youth supports Venezuelan revolution and Hands Off Venezuela campaign". In Defence of Marxism. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Labour Youth slams Govt attitude to education". Breaking News. 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Labour Youth (2007), Left Tribune, Vol. 2, No. 6, Labour Youth, retrieved 2020-06-18
- ^ Loughlin, Seamus. "Ireland: Labour Youth, the Connolly Youth Movement, the Greens and the March 30th Strikes". In Defence of Marxism. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Labour Youth call on party to ditch coalition talks". Independent.ie. 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
- ^ http://www.labouryouth.ie/repeal/
- ^ "#Repealthe8th leaflet from The Labour Party". Irish Election Literature. 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ http://www.labouryouth.ie/say-no-to-sexism-homophobia/
- ^ Says, Keith (2012-10-02). ""Say No To Sexism and Homophobia" Leaflet from Labour Youth". Irish Election Literature. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ Party, The Labour (2010-08-11). "Labour Youth publishes policy document |". The Labour Party. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ http://www.labouryouth.ie/votes16/
- ^ http://www.labouryouth.ie/young-workers-guide-know-your-rights/
- ^ "Leaflet from Labour Youth "Do u want ….. Free Education … Same Sex Marriage … A Living Wage….."". Irish Election Literature. 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ Says, seachranaidhe1 (2018-03-29). "Poster about Consent from Labour Youth". Irish Election Literature. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Grant Asylum Seekers The Right to Work leaflet from Labour Youth". Irish Election Literature. 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "Tackling Zero Hour Contracts". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Say no to homophobia, transphobia & sexism". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Education for the Next Generation". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Brady, Chai (2017-12-14). "'Juvenile' Labour Youth reminded of social media codes". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/no-divergence-between-howlin-and-party-s-youth-wing-says-labour-1.3633696
- ^ "Dublin City Council: Chu Sets the Pace with Green Party Making Gains in All Areas". Irish Times.
- ^ "Co Kildare Mum Who Has New Baby Said She Went from Couch to Council in 3 Months". Kildare Now.
- ^ "Culture, Heritage and Sport". Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Crewe, Simon Carswell in. "On the UK canvass: Brexit tensions make for vicious election". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "https://twitter.com/cormacobraonain/status/1180976876824731650". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- ^ "https://twitter.com/labouryouth/status/1151208614960517123". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ "https://twitter.com/labouryouth/status/1203356965344350208". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
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- ^ "Cyclist who died after collision with Luas named as Labour Youth Chair Cormac Ó Braonáin". TheJournal.ie.
- ^ Party, The Labour (2016-06-29). "Left Field | Labour News". The Labour Party. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
- ^ Party, The Labour (2019-11-25). "Labour Youth elects new Chairperson and Executive Committee | Labour Youth". The Labour Party. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
- ^ Pope, Conor; Bowers, Shauna. "Cyclist who died in Luas collision was chair of Labour Youth". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
- ^ "LGBT+ community pays tribute to Labour Youth leader who died after collision with Luas". GCN. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "https://twitter.com/labouryouth/status/1239874968361582592". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- ^ "https://twitter.com/labouryouth/status/1239875340048183296". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- ^ "Branches". labouryouth.ie.
- ^ O'Mahony, Eleanor (2017-11-11). "Trinity Student Elected National Chair of Labour Youth". The University Times. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
- ^ "Cian (20) elected to Labour Youth's national executive". independent. Retrieved 2020-06-18.