Republican Activism in Newry

In recent times, Republican socialist group, éirígí have been showing increasing signs of activism in the Newry area. Although i myself am not a member of éirígí i have several comrades who are active with them.

Since their formation they have made great strides and have recruited many prominent republicans including former combatants and ex-POWs.

Bear in mind that they started off in 2006 with just 6 members in Dublin, today they have activists, supporters and ciorcal established all over Ireland including Dublin, Wicklow, Cork, Tipperary, Sligo, Donegal, Belfast, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Armagh, Strabane, Lurgan, Portadown, Derry, Wexford and Waterford, Killkenny, Westmeath, Meath, Louth, Monaghan, Mayo they also have a presence in Scotland, and now they are active in Newry.

That is a massive achievement for this group and its very clear that they are doing something right.

They have also been involved in numerous political campaigns including:

• Reclaim the Republic campaign,
• Imperialists Out of Ireland,
• British Withdrawal Campaign,
• We Only Want The Earth campaign,
• Bring Home Noel Maguire,
• Repatriate Aiden Hulme campaign,

 and more recently the Different Name, Same Aim campaign which has recently reached Republican Newry.

 They have also organised several high profile protests such as the RIR protest and the Armed Forces day protest both of which brought hundreds of Republicans onto the streets in defiance of the British Army and the British Police.

 It's interesting to note that at the minute they are the only Republican group in Newry (that i'm aware of) who are actively opposing, exposing and highlighting British Occupation and British Policing in Ireland.

 Their 1st example of activism in the area was in December when they highlighted British Occupation. Since then they have now launched the Different Name, Same Aim campaign which focuses on highlighting the unchanged nature of the Political Police, also known as RUC/PSNI. The activists started of with erecting banners in various place across Newry and have now distributed thousands of leaflets in several estates with more areas to be covered in the coming days.

From speaking to the activists involved, this campaign is currently proving very successful and the response from people in these communities has been very positive with many people now taking a keen interest in the group.

I look forward to the weeks and months ahead and i can see éirígí making great strides in the Newry area.