Students once again stand up for unity – de Rosfort

The Students4Unity campaign has gone from strength to strength; students from all over the island are declaring their aspirations for a United Ireland; UCC, UCD, UL, NUIG and as of Friday the 9th of March, we can proudly count DCU among this number.

The DCU4Unity campaign, like many things in Sinn Féin, had its humble beginnings in a cold meeting room, upstairs in 58 Parnell Square. Ógra Shinn Féin in Dublin were discussing the priorities that we would like to address for the oncoming academic year.  I recall a buzz of excitement gripping the room as we considered the prospect of adding a second Dublin university to the growing list of educational institutions that support Irish reunification.

One of our primary objectives was to enable students to recognise the damage that partition does to our island; leaflet drops, organising educational talks and setting up stalls were central to the realisation of this goal.

It was evident from the beginning that we would have to extend beyond the traditional supporters of Irish unity in order to ensure the campaign’s success. The dichotomy of the right-wing’s ability vs. the left’s to cooperate with others brings with it lessons for the Irish left; by narrowing down the scope of what it was we wanted to accomplish, we were able to work together successfully in order to further a common specific goal.

As the Students4Unity campaign grows, it is vital that lessons such as this are shared with our comrades, as they will surely be applicable in our effort to progress a republican political programme, grow the Irish left, and overthrow the right-wing hegemony that has plagued this island for far too long.

Eoin de Rosfort,

Cathaoirleach Ógra Shinn Féin, Baile Átha Cliath