James Connolly Festival

11/08/2024

🎥 This year's James Connolly Memorial Lecture 'The National Question & Anti-Militarism' given by Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh is available to watch in full now

https://youtu.be/nLSPhQi9fRU?si=NY5BXVWavZEmIkPl

08/08/2024

🎥 This year's James Connolly Memorial Lecture by is available to watch online now ✊




Watch 👇
https://youtu.be/nLSPhQi9fRU?si=EweJiuSuyQK31CK4

08/08/2024

This year's James Connolly Memorial Lecture 'The National Question & Anti-Militarism' given by will be available to watch on our YouTube channel this evening.

Subscribe to our channel youtube.com/

17/07/2024

Statement from Dublin Communities Against Racism on Coolock riot.

The disgraceful scenes in Coolock the past couple of days have been nothing more than open racism and thuggery instigated by elements that do not represent the good working families of the locality. Nobody in attendance has anything meaningful to offer the community.

A number of recently elected councillors have been present throughout the violence. Those who voted for these individuals are now reaping what they sowed and must accept responsibility for the inevitable consequences that have followed. No decent working class residents have been out rioting, and no decent person voted for those who condone or excuse it.

The good people of Coolock have had to witness the intimidation of ambulance and bus workers, the verbal abuse of staff in retail outlets and the threat of arson against passing motorists. This is not Coolock. This is lumpen elements who have been terrorising neighbours for years and now want to extend that hatred to refugees.

The hard working community activists and club members across Coolock must be supported through funding and facilities to continue to create the positive Coolock we all know. Less than 100 thugs, encouraged and led by ragbag racist mouthpieces will not define Coolock or any other Dublin working class community.

Ongoing government failures on housing, health and the cost of living along with ministerial arrogance cannot excuse the events of Coolock. This was violent racism and it needs to be challenged.

09/05/2024

This year’s James Connolly festival opens on Thursday 9th May 2024 with a panel discussion titled ‘Land And The People’. We ask the question: what is our relationship to land and resources? We’ll be joined by Sinead Mercier, Patrick Bresnihan, Róisn Ní Chinnéide and Rory Rowan.

Friday 10th May will see us mark the 40th anniversary of the powerful Dunnes Stores strike with a screening of Blood Fruit (dir. Sinead O’Brien, 2014). The documentary tells the story of an inspiring struggle that eventually led to the first complete ban on goods exported from Apartheid South Africa. Mary Manning (Author & Activist), the first worker to refuse handling of the goods and thus sparking the strike, will join us for a Q&A afterwards.

Later on Friday night the festival moves to Dalymount Park, home of Bohemian FC in Phibsborough for a night of electronic music, the Connolly Rave. The event will see top Dublin DJs Robbie Kitt, Moon Cup, Naoise and Aaron Nolan.

The opening event of what will be an action packed Saturday 11th May sees Dr Conor McCabe host a ‘James Connolly Walking Tour’. The 2.5km stroll will take in some of the lesser-known or ‘hidden’ places associated with Connolly’s life. Meeting at the Connolly statue, Liberty Hall at 11am.

On Saturday afternoon we return to The New Theatre. Firstly for a youth panel discussion ‘Youth, Imperialism & Revolution’. We’ll welcome Georgina Andrews (General Secretary – Young Communist League), Tomás Sheehan (General Secretary – Connolly Youth Movement) and Matthew O’Brien (Chairperson – Communist Party of Ireland Youth Committee).

Following that, this year’s Connolly Memorial Lecture will be presented by historian Dr Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh. The title of his lecture: ‘The National Question & Anti-Militarism’.

The evening will feature a Palestinian solidarity event in association with IPSC, featuring music, poetry and discussion. Gazelleband is a duo of Palestinian oud player Reem Anbar and musician Dr Louis Brehony, who tell the Palestinian story through music. The evening will also feature Irish-Palestinian singer/songwriter Roisin El-Cherif. Recently awarded All-Ireland Slam Poetry champion Anna Doran completes the evening’s bill which will be MC’d by local hero Emmet Kirwan.

The weekend comes to a close on Sunday 12th May with the annual Connolly Commemoration at Arbour Hill, Dublin. The main oration will come from Cuban Ambassador to Ireland Bernard Guanche Hernandez. It will also see a speech from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, Jimmy Corcoran. The event will be followed by drinks in the Cobblestone.

Tickets for all events are available from www.jamesconnollyfestival.com

08/05/2024

Connolly Rave this Friday!

📍Dalymount Park
🗓️ Fri May 11th
🕥 10.30pm
🎟️ 10e

Join us for a night of house, techno and everything in between ✊

03/05/2024

Have you got your ticket yet?

This year's James Connolly Festival kicks off next week and tickets are beginning to run low.

Grab yours here👇
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/james-connolly-festival-2024-3250539

25/04/2024

This year's James Connolly Commemoration will take place on Sunday May 12th from 3pm at Arbour Hill. The main oration will be given by Cuban ambassador to Ireland Bernardo Guanche Hernandez alongside the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, Jimmy Corcoran.

🇮🇪 🇨🇺

17/04/2024

In association with Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign we present Gazelleband, Rosin El-Cherif, Anna D & Emmet Kirwan.

Gazelleband - Formed by a duo of Palestinian oud player Reem Anbar and musician Dr Louis Brehony, .band tell the Palestinian story through music. Based in Manchester, the band perform internationally at festivals, concert halls, universities and community events. Upon previous visits to Ireland the band spoke of the bonds of solidarity between Ireland and Palestine with famous performances of 'Foggy Dew' and 'James Connolly'.

Róisín El-Cherif - is an Irish Palestinian artist from Galway who has been at the forefront of solidarity rallies and in raising awareness and funds. Her most recent song ‘Siúil a Rúin’ is a traditional Irish ballad sung in a mixture of Irish, English and Arabic. Speaking of the song and her Irish-Palestinian culture, El Cherif remarked “What links these two cultures for me is grief and perseverance. I find great solace in the traditional music of both lands and it felt easy for me to blend and combine them.”

Anna Doran - .poetry is a spoken word poet, recently crowned all-Ireland slam poetry artist in Derry. She has prepared a long piece on the shared struggle of Ireland and Palestine and the more broad effects of colonialism.

Emmet Kirwan - The evening will be hosted by Irish actor, playwright and screenwriter, Eemet Kirwan. Beyond his artistry, Emmet is a well known activist and advocate of social justice and causes.

This event will be held in association with who host a stall in before and after the event.

Tickets limited, link in bio 👆🏼
or
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/palestine-solidarity-event-tickets-877375623107

13/04/2024

We mark the 40th anniversary of one the most important moments in Ireland's labour history!

Blood Fruit tells the powerful story of the Dunnes Stores strike, which kicked off in 1984 – an extraordinary example of ordinary women taking a political and moral initiative that had far-reaching, positive consequences in helping to break the apartheid system in South Africa.

The strike lasted three years, at a huge personal cost for those involved. But in the end the Irish government were forced to ban the import of South African goods – the first ever complete ban on goods exported from apartheid South Africa. We mark the 40th anniversary of the strike at a time when the apartheid state of Israel is sparking similarly inspired actions across the globe.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with one of the original strikers, Mary Manning.

Tickets available now
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/workers-power-film-screening-qa-blood-fruit-tickets-877286496527

11/04/2024

This years James Connolly Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh. Fearghal is a Belfast-based historian and the author of a number of important books, including Tyrone: the Irish Revolution, 1912-1923.

The title of his lecture 'The National Question & Anti-Militarism'

Tickets are free and available now, link in bio
or
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/james-connolly-memorial-lecture-tickets-877369795677

10/04/2024

Imperialism has been the dominant force of the 20th and 21st century and the main area of struggle for the international working class. What role has the communist youth played in that struggle? What areas of struggle should the communist youth of Ireland and beyond set their eyes on to bring revolutionary change for the future?

We bring together activists from Ireland and Britain. We're glad to welcome the General Secretary's of the and alongside chairperson of the youth committee.

Tickets available now, link in bio 👆
or
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/youth-imperialism-revolution-tickets-877366395507

08/04/2024

The story of James Connolly usually focuses on two key aspects: Liberty Hall and the Rising. Yet there was so much more to his time in Dublin.

This tour will visit some of the less well-known or ‘hidden’ places associated with his life in the city. It is about 2.5km in length and will take about two hours, starting at Beresford Place and ending at Dame St. It will go ahead rain or shine so please dress appropriately.

Tickets are €5 and capacity is limited to 50 people so as to make it manageable for Conor.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/james-connolly-walking-tour-tickets-877357819857

06/04/2024

What is our relationship with the land and the resources? What do we actually mean when we say 'we'? What language does the capital speak, and what language does it refuse to hear? In our event, we open these and other questions around the exploitation, resistance, the collective and the individual. We discuss the exploited and mismanaged nature, infrastructure, and systems of care in Ireland.

Book your tickets now 👇

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/environment-land-and-the-people-tickets-877271190747

04/04/2024

James Connolly Festival 2024 announced!

The festival opens on Thursday May 9th with a panel discussion titled ‘Land And The People’. We ask the question - what is our relationship to land and resources. We’ll be joined by Sinead Mercier, Patrick Bresnihan, Róisn Ní Chinnéide and Rory Rowan. Friday May 10th sees us mark the 40th anniversary of the powerful Dunnes Stores anti-Apartheid strike with a screening of ‘Blood Fruit’. The documentary tells the story of an inspiring struggle that eventually led to the first complete ban on goods exported from Apartheid South Africa. Mary Manning (Author & Activist), the first worker to refuse handling of the goods and thus sparking the strike, will join us for a Q&A afterwards.

The opening event of what will be an action packed Saturday May 11th sees Dr Conor McCabe host a ‘James Connolly Walking Tour’. The 2.5km stroll will take in some of the lesser-known or ‘hidden’ places associated with Connolly’s life. Meeting at the Connolly statue, Liberty Hall at 11am.

In the afternoon we return to The New Theatre. Firstly for a youth panel discussion ‘Youth, Imperialism & Revolution’. We’ll welcome Georgina Andrews (General Secretary Young Communist League), Tomás Sheehan (General Secretary Connolly Youth Movement) and Matthew O’Brien (Chairperson Communist Party of Ireland Youth Committee). This year’s Connolly Memorial Lecture will be presented by historian Dr Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh. The title of his lecture - ‘The National Question & Anti-Militarism’.

The evening will see a Palestinian solidarity event in association with IPSC. The evening will see music, poetry and discussion. Gazellend is a duo of Palestinian oud player Reem Anbar and musician Dr Louis Brehony who tell the Palestinian story through music. Irish-Palestinian singer/songwriter Roisin El-Cherif joins us. Recently awarded All Ireland Slam Poetry champion Anna Doran completes the evening’s bill which will be mc’d by local hero Emmet Kirwan.

The weekend comes to a close on Sunday May 12th will the annual Connolly Commemoration at Arbour Hill, Dublin. The main oration will come from Cuban Ambassador to Ireland Bernard Guanche Hernandez. It will also see a speech from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, Jimmy Corcoran. The event will be followed by drinks in the Cobblestone.

Book your tickets now
www.jamesconnollyfestival.com

01/04/2024

James Connolly Festival 2024

🗓️ May 9-12
📍 Connolly Books / The New Theatre

Youth ▪️ Environment ▪️ National Question ▪️ Workers Power ▪️ Solidarity ▪️ James Connolly ▪️

Coming soon!