Connolly Youth Movement Explained

Connolly Youth Movement
Native Name:Ógra Uí Chonghaile
Founded:1963
Preceded By:Northern Ireland Young Communist League
International:WFDY
Mother Party:N/A
Communist Party of Ireland (1963-2021)
Magazine:Forward

The Connolly Youth Movement (Irish: Ógra Uí Chonghaile, often abbreviated as CYM) is an all-Ireland Marxist–Leninist youth organisation[1] named after revolutionary socialist, James Connolly. Until 2021 it was affiliated with the Communist Party of Ireland. It is a member of the World Federation of Democratic Youth.[2]

History and current status

The Connolly Youth Movement (CYM) was founded in 1963 by young people who were influenced by the Communist Party during the Dublin Housing Action struggle.[3] In 1970, with the merger of the Irish Workers' Party and Communist Party of Northern Ireland, to form the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI),[4] the Northern Ireland Young Communist League joined the CYM,[5] with Madge Davison as its general secretary.[6] The CYM disbanded in 1991 due to a reduction in membership following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and eastern and central European bloc and the resulting political crisis in the World Communist Movement. However, following the resurgence of the left and anti-capitalist movement in Ireland, the CYM re-formed in 2002, grouped mainly around young members of the Dublin Branch of the CPI and student activists at NUI Galway. The Connolly Youth Movement has relations with a number of young communist organisations around the world. The CYM attends the (MECYO).[7]

The CYM supported the programme of the Communist Party of Ireland until a vote of the membership rescinded it at an Extraordinary Ard Fheis on 9 January 2021.[8] The Communist Party issued a statement saying that, shortly before the split, several dual (CPI-CYM) members had been expelled for breaches of discipline and factional behaviour.[9]

Policies and ideology

The CYM is constitutionally a Marxist-Leninist organisation.[10] It opposes the Good Friday Agreement and the European Union.[11] In July 2022 it published a new programme, Cause of Youth, Cause of Ireland. This included a commitment to Irish unity, revival of Irish culture and promotion of the Irish language, civil rights, free education, free healthcare on an all-Ireland basis, action on climate change, a public housing programme, international solidarity, and "a comprehensive system of worker's rights".[12]

In 2020, CYM's then General Secretary Alex Homits stated that "poverty and trafficking are the leading creators of sex workers." The CYM have offered solidarity to those engaged in sex work, and support for decriminalisation of the purchase of sex.[13]

The CYM condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an "inter-capitalist conflict" and a "highly dangerous and irresponsible course of action which will lead to the loss of many lives and create a fusebox of conflict". It criticised the Ukrainian government and said the eastward enlargement of NATO was a cause of the war. The CYM also recognizes the Russian-controlled breakaway states of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic in Ukraine.[14]

The CYM has denied China's human rights abuses against Uyghurs.[15]

The CYM opposed the Israeli invasion of Gaza, calling it a "genocide",[16] and supported calls to expel the Israeli ambassador.[17] Previously they have also called for the release of Palestinian political prisoner and expressed support for Palestinian self-determination and opposition to Israel's illegal settlements in the West Bank.[18] The CYM is also a supporter of the BDS campaign.[19]

Activities

In 2017, members of the Cork branch of the Connolly Youth Movement occupied and re-purposed three derelict buildings near UCC as part of an initiative to highlight rising levels of homelessness.[20] [21] In 2018, two of these buildings were repossessed by the Garda Emergency Response Unit acting in conjunction with a contractor for the O'Dwyer Asset Management Company that owned the vacant properties.[22] [23] [24] The first occupation, still ongoing as of 2021, is referred to as Connolly Barracks by the organisation.[25]

The Connolly Youth Movement was involved in highly publicised instances of direct action in 2018[26] and 2019[27] [28] when members of the movement disrupted Fine Gael public meetings in Cork in protest of government policy on homelessness and wealth inequality. One such action was criticised by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who stated "I think no matter what political party you come from or what your political views, we should all be committed to democracy and freedom of speech and trying to shout other people down and trying to shut down their meetings is profoundly anti-democratic".[29] The CYM responded that it had a right to challenge and question the government on policy issues.[30] In a March 2020 interview, CYM General Secretary Alex Homits said "Socialism will not and cannot be delivered through the ballot box and the CYM and its membership will not lie about this or endorse those who do".[31]

In July 2020, Connolly Youth activists, supported by members of Saoradh, the Irish Republican Socialist Party and Lasair Dhearg, smashed an Irish Freedom Party stall in Belfast.[32]

In March 2023, members of the Connolly Youth Movement disrupted an event in Dublin City University where Bertie Ahern was receiving an honorary doctorate, calling him an "architect of the financial crisis" before being removed from the venue.[33]

In June 2023, Connolly Youth activists holding an anti-NATO banner disrupted a forum discussing Irish defence policy. Micheál Martin, who was giving a speech, accused them of being undemocratic and trying to shut down debate.[34]

Publications

The CYM irregularly publishes a print magazine titled Forward, with online articles published under the same title.[35]

Affiliations

Prominent past members of CYM

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Constitution. 28 March 2018. Connolly Youth Movement . en-GB. 10 February 2020.
  2. Web site: 2022-08-09 . CYM participates in CENA camp 2022, Madrid - Connolly Youth Movement . 2024-04-09 . cym.ie . en-GB . Between 26 and 28 June 2022, members of the Connolly Youth Movement took part in the Committee of Europe and North America (CENA) Camp in Madrid, organised by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY)..
  3. Web site: Connolly Youth Movement . 2024-04-09 . Connolly Youth Movement . 1 . The Connolly Youth Movement (CYM) is an all-Ireland socialist youth organisation supportive of the Communist Party of Ireland. It was originally founded in 1963 by a group of young socialist republicans inspired by the Irish Workers’ Party (forerunner of the CPI) who were involved in the Dublin Housing Action Campaign. Following the crisis in socialism in the early 90s, the CYM declined in membership. However, in 2002 it was revived..
  4. Book: Milotte, Mike . Communism in Modern Ireland: The Pursuit of the Workers' Republic since 1916 . Gill . Macmillan . University of Michigan . 1984 . 9780841909700 . Dublin . 281–282.
  5. News: Norton . Alexander . 2020-03-04 . Red ambition: the Connolly Youth Movement in 2020 . 2024-04-09 . The Morning Star . Alex Homits: This congress coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first all-Ireland one in 1970. In 1970 the Young Communist League of Northern Ireland and the southern connection that was the Connolly Youth Movement unified..
  6. Web site: Communist Party of Ireland . 2024-04-09 . communistpartyofireland.ie . In 1970 the Communist Youth League merged with the Connolly Youth Movement (founded in 1963), and Madge Davison became the first general secretary of the all-Ireland CYM..
  7. Web site: Message of support of the Communist Youth Organizations. Communist Party of Greece . 10 February 2020.
  8. Web site: 18 January 2021. CYM Statement on Disaffiliation. 18 January 2021. Connolly Youth Movement . en-GB.
  9. https://communistparty.ie/en/2021/02/statement-on-cpi-cym-relations/ Statement on CPI-CYM relations
  10. 2022-02-10 . Twomey . Fergal . What Does it Mean to be an Unreconstructed Communist? . 2024-04-09 . Foward . Connolly Youth Movement . 2 . issuu.com . 33 . The Connolly Youth Movement is a Marxist-Leninist Socialist Republican organisation and must remain so..
  11. Web site: Cause of Youth, Cause of Ireland . Connolly Youth Movement . 17–19 . 2022.
  12. News: 2018-11-07 . Programme Clár - . en-GB . 2022-08-22.
  13. Web site: CYM Editorial Team. 4 June 2020. When Sex Workers Win, All Women Win. live. cym.ie. https://web.archive.org/web/20200819052922/https://cym.ie/2020/06/04/when-sex-workers-win-all-women-win/ . 19 August 2020 .
  14. Web site: The CYM condemns war in Ukraine . Connolly Youth Movement . 25 February 2022.
  15. Web site: Uyghurs and China: The Facts . Connolly Youth Movement . 27 February 2021.
  16. Web site: 2024-02-11 . Israel begins most genocidal operation in Rafah - Forward . 2024-04-09 . cym.ie . en-GB.
  17. News: 2024-02-27 . UCC students protest for Palestinians and call for Israeli ambassador to be expelled . 2024-04-09 . Irish Independent . Members of UCC's Connolly Youth Movement, protest for Palestinians and call for Israeli ambassador to be expelled..
  18. Web site: 2023-03-19 . Statement Calling For The Release Of Palestinian Prisoners . 2024-04-09 . cym.ie . We take this opportunity to reiterate our condemnation of the genocidal policy of the Zionist State of Israel against the Palestinian people, as well as our firm solidarity with the Palestinian cause and their legitimate struggle against the Zionist occupation, the right to self-determination and the return of Palestinian refugees to their lands..
  19. Web site: 2024-03-31 . The Irish government supports Israel - Forward . 2024-04-09 . cym.ie . en-GB . That is why CYM activists have consistently engaged in and supported actions calling for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, such as those being carried out regularly in Belfast..
  20. News: Group squat in Cork house to highlight crisis . . 10 February 2020.
  21. Web site: Students face eviction from liberated building University Express. 8 November 2017. UCC Express. en-GB. 10 February 2020.
  22. Web site: Gardaí evict anti-homelessness protestors. 1 August 2018. Evening Echo .
  23. Web site: Armed Response Unit Break Up Political Protest in Cork, Ireland . 26 July 2018. CYM.
  24. News: North Frederick Street looks like proof that the system is conspiring against the people. Una. Mullally. The Irish Times.
  25. News: Cork's Connolly Barracks . 23 January 2020 . Hot Press .
  26. Web site: Connolly Youth Movement Disrupt Simon Coveney Event in UCC University Express. 10 October 2018. UCC Express. en-GB. 10 February 2020.
  27. Web site: 'Have you a job? Have you a job?' – Tense exchanges as FG Cork meeting disrupted by protesters. Duffy. Rónán. TheJournal.ie. May 2019 . en. 10 February 2020.
  28. News: Varadkar calls protesters who halted Fine Gael meeting 'anti-democratic' . Roche. Barry. The Irish Times. en. 10 February 2020.
  29. News: Roche . Barry . 1 May 2019 . Varadkar calls protesters who halted Fine Gael meeting 'anti-democratic' . . 22 January 2021.
  30. Web site: Taoiseach brands Cork protest 'profoundly undemocratic'. 2 May 2019. Breaking News. 10 February 2020.
  31. News: Norton . Alexander . 4 March 2020 . Red ambition: the Connolly Youth Movement in 2020 . . 22 January 2021.
  32. News: Activists 'evict' Far-Right Irish party as it sets up stall in centre of Belfast . . 27 July 2020.
  33. Web site: McConnell . Daniel . 2023-03-02 . Student protestors disrupt Bertie Ahern conferral saying he 'does not deserve any award' . 2023-03-02 . Irish Examiner . en.
  34. News: Martin hits out at 'incoherent' protesters who were removed during forum speech in Cork . . 22 June 2023.
  35. Web site: Forward. CYM.
  36. Web site: Communist Party of Ireland. www.communistpartyofireland.ie. 10 February 2020.
  37. Book: Yearbook on International Communist Affairs . 1980 . Stanford University . 177.
  38. News: Manus O’Riordan obituary: A man of high intellect with many passions . The Irish Times.
  39. Web site: Heckling Dev . History Ireland.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Connolly Youth Movement".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.