How can we resolve the differences we’re facing into as a people on this island divided by history, identity and politics? ‘Visions of inna New Ireland’ will give voice to different perspectives on what a new Ireland could and might look like in the context of a post ‘Brexit’ future and the possibilities and implications resulting from this for the island, Britain and the wider continent of Europe.
NB: Interestingly the two political parties, Sinn Féin and The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland that had confirmed their participation before Christmas have just recently withdrawn from this event. Why we can only guess? And what does it say about their idea of open and inclusive dialogue in bringing about a new Ireland?
Speakers Include:
Clare Daly (MEP for Dublin): Clare is a long-standing socialist activist who has campaigned on behalf of working-class communities of North Dublin for over two decades. Amongst other campaigning issues she was instrumental during that time in exposing malpractice within the South’s Garda Siochana. Clare was elected to the European parliament to represent the constituency of Dublin in 2019 with over 87,000 votes. She is a member of ‘Independents for Change’, which is part of the left-wing block of political parties at the parliament.
Tommy McKearney (Trade Unionist/Activist): Tommy is a Republican Socialist activist, Trade Unionist and former IRA Hunger Striker. He is an organiser for the Independent Workers Union and author of, ‘The Provisional IRA: From Insurrection to Parliament’.
Colin Harvey (Human Rights Law QUB): Colin is Professor of Human Rights Law in the School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast. He is a Fellow of the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, and an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Irish Studies.
The discussion is facilitated by Mick Fealty (Slugger O’Toole)
Mick is the editor of Slugger O’Toole, an award winning news and opinion portal, which takes a critical look at various strands of political politics in Ireland and Britain. It tries to bring its readers ‘open source analysis’ from both the mainstream media and the blogosphere. And we are constantly on the look out for opportunities to add value to the debate of matters of regional, national and international concern.
Mary Lou McDonald (TD & Sinn Fein President): Mary Lou is President of Sinn Féin and a sitting TD representing the constituency of Dublin Central. Mary Lou succeeded Gerry Adams as president of Sinn Féin in 2018 and since that time the party has significantly increased its level of support south of the border, where it is now the main voice of opposition to the current Dublin Government’s Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael led coalition. In contrast, in recent elections the party has recorded a drop in its popularity in several key constituencies north of the border. N.B. This speaker has withdrawn from the event.
Senior Alliance Party Member: (A Senior member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland) will be represented at the event by a senior member from the party (TBC). Formed in 1970 the party is viewed as representing moderate unionist voters and in recent years, in a challenge to the two main unionist parties of the DUP and Ulster Unionists it has seen its share of the vote increase, both across Northern elections and in the 2019 election for seats to the European parliament. N.B. The Alliance Party has withdrawn from the event.