Dublin Opinion

Posted in Irish Labour History | 6 Comments

6 Responses to “May Day in Ireland: an interview with Sam Nolan”

1. on 02 May 2011 at 2:38 pm1Tom Redmond

   Congradulation to Community TV (again) for an excellent interview with Sam.
   One small point of difference however. Sam says that the Trades Council’s decision to sponspor the May Day commemoration was due to difficulties with the Militant etc and the May Day committee - suggesting a rescue job.
   I as Communiswy Party representative was Secreary of the Joint May Day Committee - the sponsors of the event during those years 1970 - 1975 . The decision of the Trades Council was pushed by those elememts on that body who were opposes to united action of the left and those who wanted to downplay political aspects of trade unionism. May Day was to become another ex[pression of economism. Delegates for the Communist Party and the genuine broad Left opposed the motion.
   It is important to stress that those May Day events were not just a relection of a united poilitical Left platform but say many Trade Union banners “proudly floating in the breeze”.
   My final point is current. What can we do to respore May Day to its relevency and to be an inspiration to todays rank and file trade unionists.

2. on 04 May 2011 at 10:45 am2Ciaran Moore

   Hi Tom

   thanks for the kind words and i wouldn’t dare comment on the details of how DCTU took on sponsoring Mayday.

   On the final, wider question - I think one aspect is that the creation of spaces where we can start to network and organise is a major project needed at the moment. Talking to Sam before this interview I was struck by how Mayday was sort of a torch kept alight - which can then be used to ignite something bigger as needed. One thing that strikes me is, as someone who would be technically literate (as in computers etc.) and would know a lot of people involved in trade unionism and other left politics I still don’t know where to promote an event or go to meet others for debate. I have spoken with others a few times on the need for ‘common spaces’, whether these be online or real world.

   We’ll continue to do our bit on community Tv but are under no illusions that watching a tv programme in your home is quite a passive, consumerist approach to politics - no more effective than clicking ‘like’ on a facebook call for revolution.

   One thing we could do is try and reimagine TV - if anybody was interested in developing a peoples university series, lectures screened live from our series, we would be happy to support. Perhaps the 1913 centenary could be a rallying point?

3. on 05 May 2011 at 1:32 pm3Tom Redmond

   Ciaran,
   Thank you for your ideas. We are moaning about the decline of May Day and coming up with political ideas of why this is so. (Social Partnership etc) The fact is that May Day as a historic and inspiring symbol of working class culture is not felt the same way by todays ordinary trade unionsist or indeed many of young people of radical persuasion. So we need new aqpproaches, different means of illustrating the “message”. creative ways of attracting young peope,etc etc. All linking currect struggles with our past history.
   Obviously your work on TV is one example of feeding into this and points some clues of how to do things differently. It needs further thought, wore like minded contributions - all in the space you speak out. For next May Day we need more tham a few hundred reliables, a standard march and predictable speeches.
   Good luck with your work

4. on 06 May 2011 at 1:49 pm4Pat Joe

   The solution is to have a family fun day at the end of the march to bring out the workers, get sponsorship for free - yes FREE BEER and cook a BBQ at the end. Each union has it’s own table for it’s members. Put on a bit of music and people can socialise and have a bit of craic.

   Think I’m joking? Every massively attended May Day March in Australian cities is organised this way, I’ve been involved in organising these rallies in Australia for donkeys years. In Australia marches terminate at a public park/showgrounds where the beer and bbq is laid on - because of the weather at home a different venue would be required but ……………it could be done!

5. on 06 May 2011 at 1:54 pm5Pat Joe

   You won’t get people to attend based on ‘message’ - the best you can hope is to get them out and there on the day and then develop a bit of comraderie and get a few chants going with something to look forward to at the end - a beer and a bit of a feed. No one is going to come out to listen to union speeches unfortunately - ye have to be a bit more subtle. Each union can get a few caps printed with the logo and a few flags for each union member that participates.

6. on 09 May 2011 at 9:23 am6Gerryboy

   Pat Joe’s suggestion, “Have a family fun day at the end of the march” sort of hits the nail on the head. I’ve attended May Day marches in Dublin and found them entirely joyless, undersupported occasions. Not only was turnout so small but only one or two union banners provided some colour. Many North of England trade union banners are so artistic and assertive, indicating that union members are proud to be carrying them in public. Mayday should in the first instance be a holiday and stress a festive atmosphere. Organizers should try to create a St. Patrick’s Day atmosphere in minature for working class people and their political supporters.

   I’ve been in Paris on Bastille Day, the 14th of July. Left parties organize free street dancing in certain quartiers (localities) and erect platforms in public spaces for bands to perform while people join in spontaneous dancing. The tricoleur and bunting brighten up these venues. I think they get the platform speeches over early in the day and let festivities wend their way into the evening before families go home or visit restaurants for meals around 9 p.m. Of course there are leafleters and paper sellers discreetly active on the sidelines promoting their messages.

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