WP North Dublin Re-launch

Wynn’s Hotel on Lower Abbey Street in the centre of Dublin was the venue for the public relaunch of the North Dublin branch of the Workers’ Party on Saturday, 7th of February. The four hour event was very well attended and saw party members new and old mixing with party supporters and others interested in constructing a new Left politics in the city.

The event combined reflection on the past achievements of the party with a number of discussion documents, prepared by the North Dublin branch, which looked to formulate possible policy proposals as the basis of future gains for the working class in the city.

The public relaunch was the conclusion of a process of rejuvenation of the organisation in the north of the city which has been under way since the summer. This process has seen a growth in party membership in terms of both quantity and quality, with a significant cohort of established Left activists joining the party from a variety of backgrounds and previous projects and parties, and has brought fresh thinking and momentum to the party’s presence in the north city.

A full schedule of presentations and political debate filled the afternoon, focused around panel discussions which synthesised the energy and fresh approach of the new members with the deep experience of campaigns and struggles of the party through past decades.

Party President Mick Donnelly opened proceedings with a short but focused speech on the history, political basis of the party, and potential for the future as a party of socialism which was not afraid to put forward policy proposals which aimed at improving the life of workers in the immediate term, while maintaining the ultimate goal replacement of capitalism with socialism.

The first of the panel sessions addressed the subjects of the Economy and Industrial Policy and brought together Gavin Mendel-Gleason, who spoke on the topic of Economic Democracy, with Daryl D’Art who spoke of the legal frameworks which constrict trade union operation, and Conor O’Gorman who spoke of the need for politicisation and militancy within the trade union movement.

This was followed by a panel of the question of Housing which brought together Áine Mannion’s work through the We’re Not Leaving group, which looked at problems and potential solutions within the private rental sector, and Lorraine Hennessy from the West Dublin branch who spoke of the housing struggle within the communities in north Clondalkin.

The morning session wrapped up with an overview of the Workers’ Party’s achievements across a range of historical struggles between the 1960s and 1980s by veteran party member Paddy Fitzsimons, who recounted tales of his time in the Trades Council and the organisation of the PAYE Tax marches amongst many other agitations which the party played a leading part in the past.

The afternoon session began with a panel which addressed Urban Planning and brought together the party’s new Dublin City Councillor Éilis Ryan, who spoke about the potential basis for socialist oriented local government, and Anne Finnegan from the West Dublin branch who spoke of the struggles against corruption in the planning process, the developer-led orientation of urban planning over the past decades, and the negative outcomes for working class communities which have resulted.

Each of these panel discussions provided an opportunity for vibrant question and answer with the attending audience, which were efficiently chaired on the day by John Dunne and Eira Gallagher.

The afternoon ended with short addresses from Gemma Weir from North Belfast who outlined the importance of women’s issues and gender politics within the party, and a personal address from new member Jimmy Dignam which covered the rationale for his decision to commit his energy and enthusiasm to building the Workers’ Party as the best vehicle for bringing working class politics to centre stage both in Dublin city and more broadly.