Ógra Shinn Féin (colloquially known as Republican Youth, , and formerly, officially known as Sinn Féin Republican Youth, , from 2012 to March 2018)Sinn Féin Republican Youth Returns To Better Known Title, Ógra Shinn Féin. An Sionnach Fionn. Published 31 March 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018. is the youth wing of the Irish political party Sinn Féin. Ógra Shinn Féin is active and organised throughout the island of Ireland.Ogra Shinn Fein join National Youth Council. Sinn Féin (official website). Published 29 November 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
Upon its establishment in 1997 it was originally known as Sinn Féin Youth; it changed to Ógra Shinn Féin in 1998. A number of Sinn Féin's elected representatives are also members of Ógra Shinn Féin.
Membership Membership is free and open to all Sinn Féin party members and college society members aged 15 to 29 who support a united Ireland and the establishment of a democratic socialist republic. Following a successful Ógra motion at the 2019 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, all party members under the age of 26 are automatically Ógra Shinn Féin members and are encouraged to participate in the youth wing.
Organisation Ógra Shinn Féin is organised in all 32 counties of Ireland, in both local communities and universities. Its structure is similar to that of Sinn Féin. Ógra Shinn Féin cumainn are largely autonomous from local Sinn Féin structures.Cork Sinn Féin website; accessed 8 December 2014.
Cumainn - cumainn are organised within a local area or within a college or university. At present there are over 50 active Ógra Shinn Féin cumainn throughout Ireland. A cumainn is required to have a minimum of five members. National Youth Committee - the National Committee (Comhairle Náisiúnta) is the democratically elected governing body of Ógra Shinn Féin. It consists of between 21 members. Half of the National Youth Committee will be elected by activists at an annual conference, and half will be selected by those elected already in place. The chair of the National Youth Committee is now elected by delegates at a national congress, having previously been appointed by the party chair.SFRY National Youth Committee, republicanyouth.ie; accessed 8 December 2014.
Campaigns and issues
The long-term aim of Ógra Shinn Féin is "to recruit young dedicated activists to ensure the continuity and successful conclusion of the struggle" to establish a 32-county democratic socialist republic.
Specific issues of primary importance include: Irish unity and independence; workers' rights; the protection of the environment; an end to sectarianism and racism in Ireland; decent housing for the people; weekend elections and referendums; education; supporting the Shell to Sea campaign, voting age to be lowered to 16; and the promotion of the Irish language (Gaeilge).
The following is a list of some campaigns which Ógra Shinn Féin has been involved in: Educate to be Free Campaign - This campaign was launched in December 2008 and calls for free education for all. It also calls for an increase in Irish language education and for student empowerment and radicalizing students unions. Green Postbox Campaign - This campaign was launched in 2008 and involved young republicans in Northern Ireland painting postboxes green (postboxes in the Republic of Ireland are green while those in Northern Ireland are red). The campaign received severe criticism from Unionist politicians such as Jim Wells. It is alleged that hundreds of postboxes were painted throughout Northern Ireland. Although this campaign was officially launched in 2008, it had been common for ÓSF members and other Irish republicans to engage in this practice. In 2006, a Tyrone ÓSF member was arrested for painting a postbox in Fintona. National Suicide Prevention Campaign - In 2006 Ógra Shinn Féin launched a nationwide suicide prevention campaign. The campaign focuses on the dissemination of information and the demand for an all-Ireland approach to suicide awareness. ARISE - In 2007 Ógra Shinn Féin launched the Anti-Racism, Imperialism, Sectarianism and Exploitation (ARISE) campaign. Other campaigns - It is/was also involved in campaigns regarding Demilitarization, Anti-Collusion, Disband the Royal Ulster Constabulary/Proper Policing, Minimum Wage, Lower Car Insurance, A President for All, Gay Rights, Re-routing Orange Order marches, "Freedom for the POW's", "Bring them home" (Colombia Three), anti-occupation of Iraq, remembering "Irish martyrs", Irish language, Shell to Sea, Save 16 Moore Street and All Ireland mobile tariff. In August 2016 Sinn Féin youth activists staged a protest outside of Fine Gael Headquarters due to their decision to use tax-payers' money to appeal the European Commission's decision to force Apple Inc. to hand over €13 billion in unpaid taxes to the state. The protest involved dumping dozens of apples on the doorstep of the building as well as impaling apples on the railings.
Recent events
As part of the transformation of the Provisional Republican Movement to reflect changing realities brought about by the peace process, a decision was taken to change the logo, and at the 2004 National Congress the green star and orange graffiti-style logo was adopted. The logo was again changed at the 2006 Congress when the current logo, incorporating the words Ógra Shinn Féin, the Starry Plough, the Sunburst Flag and the "Freedom Lark" was adopted. In 2014 Ógra Sinn Féin was criticised by the Young Unionists for failing to remove the petrol bomb logo from a number of its wall murals.
Affiliations National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) - Ógra Shinn Féin was previously a full member of the National Youth Council of Ireland. European Network of Democratic Young Left (ENDYL) - Ógra Shinn Féin was a full member of the ENDYL until its dissolution.Hildebrandt & Daiber (ed.), Cornelia & Brigit (2009), p. 103
International Ógra Shinn Féin has strong connections with a number of pro-independence and socialist groups throughout the world, including: SEGI - A Basque nationalist party that forms part of the Basque National Liberation Movement and is aligned with Langile Abertzaleen Batzordeak, Batasuna and the militant organisation ETA. SEGI is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Spanish and French authorities. ÓSF frequently send delegations to the Basque Country It has been reported in the Spanish media that the Spanish security services are monitoring both groups closely and have noticed a sharp increase in co-operation between the two. Spanish papers have also claimed that the youth wings exchange IRA and ETA knowledge and information. Ghjuventù Indipendentista - A youth movement which supports Corsican Nationalism and advocates independence from France. An ÓSF delegation attend the "Scontri Internaziunali" which is held in the town of Corte in central Corsica every year. Jovent Republicà - The youth wing of the Catalan nationalist group Republican Left of Catalonia which campaigns for the independence of Catalonia from Spain.OSF organise successful upbeat national congress, indymedia.ie; accessed 8 December 2014. Others - ÓSF also supports nationalist movements in Kanaky (New Caledonia), Kabylie (Algeria), Galicia, Spain, Scotland, Sardinia and Brittany.
Notable members and former members
Pearse Doherty – Current TD representing Donegal and former Senator, served as a member of the ÓSF National Executive. Máiría Cahill – Former ÓSF National Secretary. Cahill was served as a Senator from 2015 to 2016 for the Labour Party, and selected as an SDLP member of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council in 2018. Toiréasa Ferris – Elected to Kerry County Council and candidate for Sinn Féin in the European Parliament Elections in 2009. Eoin Ó Broin – Current TD representing Dublin Mid-West. Sinn Féin Director of European Affairs. He is also a published author and a former National Organiser of Sinn Féin Youth. Daithí McKay – Former Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim and political commentator. Jonathan O'Brien – Sinn Féin TD representing Cork North-Central. Niall Ó Donnghaile – Sinn Féin councillor representing East Belfast, and Sinn Féin Assembly Press Officer. Lord Mayor of Belfast (2011–12). Seanadóir in the Seanad Éireann. David Cullinane – Current TD representing Waterford. Former Senator and previous member of Waterford City Council. Matt Carthy – Sinn Féin TD representing Cavan–Monaghan. Megan Fearon – Former Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Aramgh. Emma Sheerin - Sinn Féin MLA for Mid Ulster. Fintan Warfield - Sinn Féin Seanadóir in the Seanad Éireann and former National Chair of Ógra Shinn Féin.
National Chairs
Eoin Ó Broin – 1997–98 Matt Carthy – 1998–2000 Damian Lawlor – 2000–02 (Author of Na Fianna Éireann and the Irish Revolution - 1909 to 1923) Chris O'Ralaigh – 2002–03 Mickey Bravender – 2003–06 Barry McColgan – 2006–09 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire – 2009–2011 Darren O'Rourke – 2011–2014 Harry Connolly – 2014–2016 Fintan Warfield – 2016–2018 Aodhán Ó hAdhmaill – 2018–2019 (First chair elected by membership at a National Congress) Caoimhín McCann – 2019–2022
Publications
Ógra Shinn Féin publishes a quarterly republican youth magazine entitled Splanc. The magazine was launched in 2001, eventually ceasing publication around 2006. It was re-launched in 2007, primarily in online format, with the same name, Splanc (which is the Irish language translation of Spark).
ÓSF has published its own book Awaiting the Lark in 2006 to mark the 25th Anniversary of the 1981 Irish hunger strike. The book includes interviews with many well known Irish republicans such as Michelle Gildernew, Barry McElduff, Sean Crowe, Seanna Walsh and Martina Anderson. It includes photographs from the funerals of the hunger strikers and protests that took place around the time. The book also includes information about Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg who died on hunger strike in 1974 and 1976 respectively.
Notable actions and incidents Ógra Shinn Féin frequently attracts media attention or causes controversy due to some of its activities.
Some notable examples include: Arrests at Belfast City Hall 1997 - On 3 November 1997 three members of ÓSF were arrested after they scaled the front of Belfast City Hall and unfurled a banner calling for the release of political prisoners. This was part of the "Saoirse" campaign. The RUC special branch later allegedly attempted to recruit one of those arrested to serve as an informant. Alleged abuse by Gardaí in Store Street 1998 - In November 1998 seven members of ÓSF were arrested by Gardaí in Dublin for allegedly acting in an abusive manner. While being held in Store Street Garda station the activists alleged that they were kicked and beaten by Gardaí. A protest which took place outside the Garda Station that night resulted in skirmishes between demonstrators and the Gardaí. UCC Riot 1999 - In November 1999, 50 gardaí were called in to reinforce University College Cork security after a melee broke out in the corridors of the Science building. Members of Ógra Shinn Féin, the Socialist Party, Workers' Party and anti-fascist groups had attempted to force their way into a lecture hall where British writer and Holocaust denier David Irving was to hold a talk. Gardaí decided to baton charge the 600 strong crowd. South Armagh demilitarization riots 2001 - In December 2001 ÓSF was blamed for carrying out petrol bomb attacks against RUC and British army bases in south Armagh. Twenty-two police officers, three soldiers and two police dogs were injured in the incidents during which protesters attacked the watchtowers at Creevekeeran and Drummuckaval with iron bars, bottles, fireworks and petrol bombs. Two soldiers suffered serious head injuries after being hit with petrol bombs and had to be airlifted to hospital. Another soldier suffered serious burns. The barracks at Crossmaglen was attacked and protesters managed to smash through the main gate after igniting an oil barrel and pushing it into the entrance.