Saturday October 11th saw Socialist Republicans from every corner of Ireland join Lasair Dhearg for our second Ard Fheis in the heart of Belfast’s Fall’s Road.
Our membership is the largest it has ever been, our activism is reaching more people than ever before and all present agreed that this marks a new and significant milestone in the development of our organisation since Lasair Dhearg’s initial beginnings in 2017.
Two sessions made up the days proceedings: a morning session, attended only by our members, and one in the afternoon, open to invited guests from the public.
The first session was focused on the internal operation of the organisation and setting our future direction.
The afternoon session, open to the public, heard from three speakers, all of whom shared their personal experience of their time in Palestine and the effect that Zionist apartheid is having on their people, their country and their society.
It’s important to note that the date chosen for the Ard Fheis was no coincidence. It was deliberately chosen to mark the anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th 2023 – sending our unwavering solidarity to the Palestinian resistance forces against a foreign and illegal occupier.
Morning Session
Following the registration process, members were provided with reports from representatives from each of the departments and branches that make up Lasair Dhearg, many of which were newly established at our first Ard Fheis 12 months ago. A summary was given of how each of these departments had fared in the previous year and the plans that are in place for the year ahead. Belfast and Derry Craobhacha as well as the Finance, Membership and Public Relations departments all provided these reports. It was noted that since the formal separation of finance into its own department, and the growth in our membership, that the financial situation is much more positive than it was a year ago, and more stable, allowing us to continue to adequately fund our activism.
With a growing number of members in the Twenty Six County State, a concerted and strategic effort will be made over the coming months to consolidate and grow in certain areas, following the successful use of this same strategy in Belfast and Derry. Membership across the organisation almost doubled since our last Ard Fheis, as it did in Derry where we now have a thriving, established and active Craobh. The reason behind this growth has been the increase and hard hitting nature of a our activism which has been viewed by millions of people across our social media channels, a clear increase from the year prior. The degree to which membership has increased admittedly caught some of us off guard, but our membership department has dealt with the workload admirably and the decision to establish the department at our last Ard Fheis has once again been vindicated.
A range of motions were the subject of rigorous and healthy internal debate between our members and resulted in the introduction of some important adjustments to the organisation.
At the conclusion of this stage, nominations to our new An Ciorcal Náisiúnta were ratified, with members demonstrating confidence in the work of the previous term by unanimously returning the members of the previous executive to lead the organisation in the year ahead, ensuring that Lasair Dhearg continues to grow with structure, leadership and direction.
After a short break, members participated in a read through of the first draft of our new housing policy document, a comprehensive piece of work addressing the housing crisis across Ireland and exposing the state’s deliberate neglect of the working class. Discussion centred on practical, socialist-driven solutions to the worsening conditions faced by tenants and the homeless by the current housing systems in Ireland and how housing could be improved in a future Socialist Republic. Important feedback was received from members which will used to strengthen and improve the policy before it is introduced to the public over the coming months.
A round of applause filled the room as we closed out an incredible year of growth, opportunity and agitation and a significant number of our members were heard remarking on the positivity and inspiration they were left feeling with by the close of the session.
Onward to the Socialist Republic!
Afternoon Session
The afternoon session saw the room filled with supporters, members and Socialist Republicans alike. The event was chaired by founding member Pádraic MacCoitir, former Blanketman and political ex-prisoner, who opened proceedings by expressing his delight at seeing Socialist Republicans, young and old, in attendance at this year’s Ard Fheis. He then read out two motions passed during the morning session, including:
“This Ard Fheis sends solidarity to oppressed peoples across the world. We declare particular support for those engaged in progressive national liberation struggles and reiterate our recognition of the right of oppressed peoples to employ all necessary means in pursuit of their objectives.”
Pádraic spoke briefly on Palestine’s right to resist, highlighting the strong link between Palestine’s long struggle for self-determination and Ireland’s 800-year struggle for sovereignty, before introducing the first speaker of the evening.
Brian Mac An tSionnaigh, a community activist, Irish language advocate and Palestinian solidarity campaigner from West Belfast, shared his experiences. In early 2025, Brian played a key role in the global march to Gaza, a people-led movement in Egypt with the aim of pressuring authorities to open the Rafah crossing and deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. He was detained before being deported back to Ireland.
Brian spoke very passionately about the humanitarian convoy, deep diving into the challenges of navigating checkpoints, delays at crossings and the stories of families unable to access basic, essential supplies for survival. He reflected on the importance of grassroots solidarity in Ireland, strongly emphasising that international activism must be matched by local campaigns to raise awareness and pressure governments in order to achieve real change. Brian highlighted that the Palestinian struggle is not only political but deeply human, stressing the role of community-led support and advocacy.
Following Brian, Pádraic introduced Ryan Kemp, a member of Lasair Dhearg and political activist from Armagh. Ryan volunteered at the Aida refugee camp over the summer of 2025, engaging with local groups and witnessing firsthand, the direct effects of the occupation and ongoing colonial violence. He recounted the awful living conditions of refugees, their experiences and particularly the impact on education, healthcare and daily life under constant surveillance and restrictions.
Ryan shared stories of resilience and cultural pride amongst the locals, describing children and families maintaining traditions despite unequivocal adversity. He urged us back home, national and international supporters to understand the intersection between local struggles in Palestine and global solidarity movements, emphasising that informed, consistent and sustained engagement from abroad can amplify Palestinian voices and help challenge ongoing and long-standing international complicity.
Finally, the session welcomed professional boxer and sporting ambassador for Ireland and the Palestinian cause, Tyrone McKenna. Tyrone uses his platform to highlight the illegal occupation and ongoing human rights violations in Palestine. He has visited Palestine on a multitude of occasions, most recently training locals at the Aida refugee camp, where he witnessed the confiscation of land for illegal settlements, denial of water to an entire people and absolute restriction on movement.
Tyrone stressed that sport can be a huge driving factor for activism, providing a great amount of visibility for the cause while connecting with younger generations. He recounted conversations with young people in the camps, who expressed an undying and relentless hope for a future free from oppression and the importance of international solidarity through education, advocacy and media attention. Tyrone concluded with a call to action, he encouraged attendees to translate their awareness into palpable support for Palestinian communities both on the local level and internationally.
Conclusion
As the Ard Fheis came to a close, the Chairperson took a moment to thank everyone who had travelled from across Ireland and beyond to be part of the event, and all those whose work and dedication made it a success. This year’s gathering wasn’t just another meeting, it showed how much our movement has grown, how far we’ve come and how determined we are to keep building for the future.
Over the past year, our members and supporters have continued to strengthen the organisation in every way – on the streets, in communities and online. The election of new senior organisers at this years Ard Fheis marks another important step forward, ensuring that our work remains active, disciplined and ready for the many challenges ahead.
The ongoing and steadfast development of our new housing policy was noted as one of the organisation’s key achievements of the past year, which has been a serious effort by our members to confront the deepening housing crisis that affects working-class people across the two failed states. This work reflects our commitment to building a Socialist Republican alternative based on equality, fairness and collective ownership.
The date of this year’s Ard Fheis was chosen with purpose – to coincide with the anniversary of the Palestinian Uprising of October 7th. This was a deliberate act of solidarity, to send a clear clear and unwavering message of support to the Palestinian people in their ongoing struggle against imperialism, colonialism and violence. The Movement reaffirmed its full support for the Palestinian right to resist and rejected all calls for a so-called “two-state solution.” Let it be known, that we stand firmly for one free and united Palestine – from the river to the sea.
The parallels between the Irish and Palestinian struggles were not lost on anyone in the room. We know too well that liberation does not come through compromise with those who occupy and exploit us. The failures of reformist politics and the Good Friday Agreement were rightly called out as a warning to all who seek freedom through negotiation rather than revolution.
To finish, the Chairperson called on Socialist Republicans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the fight for liberation – to rebuild a strong, principled and united Movement that can complete the work started by generations before us. The task ahead will not be easy, but our direction is clear.
It leads only one way, toward freedom, toward justice and toward the Irish Socialist Republic.
Ar aghaidh linn le chéile. Béir bua. Bígí linn.
