“There can be no perfect Europe in which Ireland is denied even the least of its national rights.”—James Connolly  “The cause of labour is the cause of Ireland, the cause of Ireland is the cause of labour.”—James Connolly  “We still believe that the struggle of Ireland for freedom is a part of the worldwide upward movement of the toilers of the earth.”—James Connolly  “I must say the tasks confronting the youth . . . might be summed up in a single word: learn.”—V. I. Lenin  “Present unfortunate state is entirely owing to treachery, the rich always betray the poor.”—Jemmy Hope  “Our independence must be had at all hazards. If the men of property will not support us, they must fall.”—Theobald Wolfe Tone  “Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution.”  —Marx and Engels 

Sack the Government

The Connolly Youth Movement and Labour Youth are calling for political accountability and for the sacking of this failed Government. Click here for a copy of the e-mail message sent by the Connolly Youth and Labour Youth to Green Party TDs, senators, MLAs, MEPs and councillors before the party’s annual conference, which took place on 7 March 2009.

Download the CYM’s leaflet on the demand for a democratic economy.

Sign the petition demanding a general election: www.PetitionOnline.com/genelect/petition.html

Connolly Youth demand a Democratic Programme for Today

The Connolly Youth Movement held a public event to mark the ninetieth anniversary of the first Dáil Éireann and the Democratic Programme on Saturday 31 January in the New Theatre, East Essex Street. This event included speeches from the Cuban Ambassador, Noel Carrillo, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, Eugene McCartan, and the secretary of the People’s Movement, Frank Keoghan. The event also included a debate between representatives of the Connolly Youth Movement, Ógra Shinn Féin, and Labour Youth, which rounded off a successful and inspirational conference.

Speeches and materials

• CYM’s Democratic Programme for Today
• Presentation by Frank Keoghan, secretary of the People’s Movement.
• Opening remarks by Peadar de Blúit, Ógra Shinn Féin.
• Opening remarks by Gareth Murphy, general secretary, CYM.
• CYM leaflet on the demand for a democratic economy.

It is fitting also that the meeting sent a message of solidarity to the workers in the occupied Waterford Crystal site following the announced closure there.

To get involved in the campaign for a more democratic Ireland contact the CYM at .

Subway: Campaign to reinstate Natalia

The CYM fully supports and is involved in the Belfast Trades Council’s campaign of support for nineteen-year-old Natalia Szymanska, a Polish worker sacked by her boss in Subway on dubious charges shortly after he found out that she was pregnant.
     The campaign is seeking
• the immediate reinstatement of Natalia,
• reimbursement for loss of earnings,
• compensation for injury to feelings,
• a commitment from Subway to treat all workers fairly.
     An on-line petition has been organised by the trades council and can be signed at www.petitiononline.com. If you have not done so yet, please do, and circulate to all contacts.

Victory for opponents of the Treaty of Lisbon





Front page of the Greek daily newspaper Tó Víma, showing a CYM anti-Lisbon sticker


CYM organise “Youth Against Treaty” demo, Saturday 7 June

Speech by CYM member John Humphreys

Speech by CYM general secretary in Athens

The general secretary of the Connolly Youth Movement, Gareth Murphy, was a guest speaker at a conference on the Lisbon Treaty in Athens on 7 April 2008. (Click here for text)

CYM leaflet on the LisbonTreaty

This year the Irish people will have the chance to vote on the Treaty of Lisbon to form a Constitution of Europe. The eyes of Europe will be on Ireland, as only we have the opportunity to express our democratic voice at this critical moment in history. The Dutch and French people have previously rejected this treaty, but now it is being forced upon us again under a different name. (Click here for CYM on the Treaty.)

WFDY solidarity with anti-Lisbon campaign

The World Federation of Democratic Youth has issued a statement expressing solidarity with the campaign against the Lisbon Treaty.

EU disrespects Ireland!

A motion was put forward in the European Parliament on 20 February 2008 stating that “the European Parliament undertakes to respect the outcome of the referendum in Ireland.” This motion was overwhelmingly rejected, by 499 votes to 129, with the Irish Labour Party MEP Proinsias de Rossa—elected by the Irish people to democratically serve the Irish people, or so we thought—voting against it. De Rossa voted for the European Parliament to disrespect Irish democracy, Irish sovereignty, and the vote of the Irish people. De Rossa and the Labour Party are campaigning for a Yes vote, on the grounds that it will “strengthen European democracy.” If this were not so serious it would be laughable. (For more detail click here for the People’s Movement press release.)

For more information on the Treaty click here for the People’s Movement’s Guide to the Treaty

Support the campaign by distributing materials and raising awareness of the real issues!

Shell to sea!

The CYM welcomes the departure of the Solitaire from Irish waters and in a statement salutes and congratulates Maura Harrington, who has ended her hunger strike, for her courage and determination.

Hunger Strike and Arrests in Erris as Solitaire arrives
Read more.

“Shell to Sea” press statement, 17 April 2008


Pipeline route
The announcement today of a pipeline route by Shell and Statoil signals further failure by the Corrib developers. The reality is that there is no consent for an inland refinery or any production pipeline in our community.
     This proposed route announced today literally cuts through the heart of our community. It exposes not just the people of Rossport but the people of the entire parish of Kilcommon to unprecedented and unacceptable risk. We do not give our consent to this and will resist it through every legal, political and campaigning means open to us, even though this could lead to more years of unnecessary conflict.
     This entire project has been the cause of untold misery, strife and unhappiness for our families and community. Our duty is to protect and defend the integrity and safety of our place and people.
     This conflict can be resolved if there is a genuine willingness on the part of Shell and Statoil to reach agreement and secure real consent. The tragedy is that there has always been a better way. What we need is resolution and agreement, not the forced imposition on an unwilling community of an unwanted and unsafe project.

Centre for Public Inquiry Report (click here for report)

Independent Analysis of Corrib Onshore System (click here for report)

Report of “Shell to Sea” public meeting, 13 March 2008 (click here)

Since early 2006 the CYM has been involved in the Shell to Sea efforts and in campaigning for the nationalisation of Ireland’s resources. As part of the Shell to Sea campaign, and as an organisation ourselves, we oppose the actions of the Government and the consortium involved . . . (See more)

CYM report on Shell picket (click here)

Message of solidarity from Communist Youth of Greece

Great Youtube vid: Talkin’ to the Branch man about natural gas

The CYM has issued a press statement concerning the intimidation of members by the Garda Síochána on 1 December 2007.

Know your rights

In today’s world, young people’s rights are not a priority and come well down the list. We are used as cheap and disposable labour, where profits can be easily amassed . . . (See more)

“What have the unions ever done for us?”—a hilarious Youtube video!

KSM solidarity

International petition in support of KSM

(Click here to download)
Complete with signatures of friends, family, classmates, colleagues and supporters and return to CYM, Connolly House, 43 East Essex Street, Dublin 2.

Latest info from KSM (16 May 2008)

For the latest news on the banning of the Czech Communist Youth, click here


See also the earlier bulletin: click here



WFDY leaflet and poster on banning of KSM, April 2008 (click here)

CYM support KSM on day of trial, 19 March 2008 (CYM leaflet: click here)

Letter of protest to Czech embassy

Letter of protest to Department of Foreign Affairs

Message of solidarity to KSM

Anti-war Ireland



Attack on Gaza

The CYM has issued statement strongly condemning the murderous bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces.

Leaflet used by Belfast CYM at anti-war demonstration (Click here for leaflet)

Stop Israeli aggression

(See more)

Letter to Israeli Embassy

(See more)

The truth behind the lies about South Ossetia

Statement by the Cuban government, 10 August 2008; article by Andrew Murray, Stop the War Coalition (Britain), 12 August 2008; article by a member of the Communist Party of Ireland, 15 August 2008; statement by the World Federation of Democratic Youth, 20 August 2008; statement by the Communist Party of Greece, 25 August 2008.

Statement by the World Federation of Democratic Youth on the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq

(See more)

Free the Miami 5!

The 5 are political prisoners held in US jails in violation of US law, international law, and basic human rights.

(See more)

World Federation of Democratic Youth



World Youth

WFDY magazine World Youth, no. 1, May 2009 (Click here)

Ninth anniversary of the bombing of Yugoslavia

WFDY statement on the ninth anniversary of the bombing of Yugoslavia, March 2008 (Click here)

WFDY Statement, 20 May 2007

Many of the ex-socialist countries in Europe have lost their political, economic, military and social sovereignty, enslaving these countries and obstructing people and especially the young generation in determining their future . . . (See more)

17th Assembly WFDY, Vietnam, March 2007

The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), an anti-imperialist, progressive, democratic and massive international non-governmental youth organisation, promotes the unity, cooperation, organised action, solidarity and exchange of information and experiences of work and struggle among the progressive youth forces, playing an indispensable role in the struggle against imperialism, fascism, colonialism, exploitation and war, for peace, internationalist solidarity, social progress and youth rights . . . (See more)