Connolly Youth Movement
Encyclopedia
The Connolly Youth Movement (CYM) is an all-Ireland youth organisation affiliated to the Communist Party of Ireland
but which is also strongly independent and organises separately from the CPI. Internationally the Connolly Youth Movement is affiliated to the World Federation of Democratic Youth
. The CYM includes young activists from many different political backgrounds who are united in their opposition to imperialism and to the inequalities that the capitalist system creates in Ireland and throughout the world. The CYM takes its name from the revolutionary socialist James Connolly
and continues his traditions of militant working-class opposition to the injustices of the world.
struggle. Unlike many of the radical youth organisations which emerged in the 1960s, the CYM recruited mainly working class youth. The CYM later amalgamated with the Northern Ireland Young Communist League
to become an all-Ireland group. Its membership came from both Catholic and Protestant backgrounds in Northern Ireland.
However, the CYM disbanded in 1991 because of a reduction in membership following the dissolution of the Soviet Union
and eastern and central European bloc
and the resulting political crisis in the World Communist Movement.
However, following the resurgence of the left and anti-capitalist movement in Ireland, the CYM re-formed in 2002, grouped mainly around young members of the Dublin Branch of the CPI and student activists in NUI (National University of Ireland), Galway. After refoundation the CYM revived its affiliation to the WFDY and began republishing the group’s magazine, Forward. During the summer of 2007 the CYM experienced a period of growth and activity with an influx of new members, who injected the movement with new energy. Today CYM publicity can be seen around the city centres of Dublin and Belfast, Forward is distributed throughout the inner-city communities, and the CYM takes an active role in many important struggles facing Ireland.
The CYM is a non-sectarian group that works with other political forces in times of struggle and supports unity within the left. It is heavily involved in the Shell to Sea campaign, Anti EU Campaigns, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and the anti-war movement in general. As well as supporting these campaigns the CYM holds its own “Working-Class School of Politics” classes in Connolly House on a range of topics, varying from environmentalism to the nature of class struggle and ideology.
The general secretary of the CYM is Gareth Murphy (Dublin), and the national chairperson is Kerry Fleck (Belfast).
The Connolly Youth Movement has relations with a number of young communist organisations around the world, especially the Young Communist League of Britain
, Canada, the USA
as well as the Communist Youth of Greece
.
The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) is a left-wing anti imperialist youth organization.
Communist Party of Ireland
The Communist Party of Ireland is a small all-Ireland Marxist party, founded in 1933. An earlier party, the Socialist Party of Ireland, was renamed the Communist Party of Ireland in 1921 on its affiliation to the Communist International but was dissolved in 1924. The present-day CPI was founded in...
but which is also strongly independent and organises separately from the CPI. Internationally the Connolly Youth Movement is affiliated to the World Federation of Democratic Youth
World Federation of Democratic Youth
The World Federation of Democratic Youth is a progressive youth organization, recognized by the United Nations as an international youth non-governmental organization. WFDY describes itself as an "anti-imperialist, left-wing" organisation...
. The CYM includes young activists from many different political backgrounds who are united in their opposition to imperialism and to the inequalities that the capitalist system creates in Ireland and throughout the world. The CYM takes its name from the revolutionary socialist James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
and continues his traditions of militant working-class opposition to the injustices of the world.
History and current status
The CYM was founded in 1963 by young republicans who were influenced by the Communist Party during the Dublin Housing ActionDublin Housing Action Committee
The Dublin Housing Action Committee was a 1960s protest against housing shortages in Ireland's capital city.It arose from a serious shortage of affordable housing, combined with a large number of properties standing empty. It also functioned as a way for a broad range of left-wingers in the...
struggle. Unlike many of the radical youth organisations which emerged in the 1960s, the CYM recruited mainly working class youth. The CYM later amalgamated with the Northern Ireland Young Communist League
Northern Ireland Young Communist League
Northern Ireland Young Communist League was a political youth movement in Northern Ireland. It was the youth wing of the Communist Party of Northern Ireland. It was later amalgamated into the Connolly Youth Movement....
to become an all-Ireland group. Its membership came from both Catholic and Protestant backgrounds in Northern Ireland.
However, the CYM disbanded in 1991 because of a reduction in membership following the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
and eastern and central European bloc
Revolutions of 1989
The Revolutions of 1989 were the revolutions which overthrew the communist regimes in various Central and Eastern European countries.The events began in Poland in 1989, and continued in Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and...
and the resulting political crisis in the World Communist Movement.
However, following the resurgence of the left and anti-capitalist movement in Ireland, the CYM re-formed in 2002, grouped mainly around young members of the Dublin Branch of the CPI and student activists in NUI (National University of Ireland), Galway. After refoundation the CYM revived its affiliation to the WFDY and began republishing the group’s magazine, Forward. During the summer of 2007 the CYM experienced a period of growth and activity with an influx of new members, who injected the movement with new energy. Today CYM publicity can be seen around the city centres of Dublin and Belfast, Forward is distributed throughout the inner-city communities, and the CYM takes an active role in many important struggles facing Ireland.
The CYM is a non-sectarian group that works with other political forces in times of struggle and supports unity within the left. It is heavily involved in the Shell to Sea campaign, Anti EU Campaigns, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and the anti-war movement in general. As well as supporting these campaigns the CYM holds its own “Working-Class School of Politics” classes in Connolly House on a range of topics, varying from environmentalism to the nature of class struggle and ideology.
The general secretary of the CYM is Gareth Murphy (Dublin), and the national chairperson is Kerry Fleck (Belfast).
The Connolly Youth Movement has relations with a number of young communist organisations around the world, especially the Young Communist League of Britain
Young Communist League (Britain)
The Young Communist League is the name of both the youth wing of the former Communist Party of Great Britain and the current youth wing of the Communist Party of Britain ; an organisation that sees itself as the successor to the Communist Party of Great Britain.-Original Young Communist League...
, Canada, the USA
Young Communist League, USA
The Young Communist League USA is the fraternal youth organization of the Communist Party USA. Although the name of the group has changed a number of times over the years, it dates its lineage back to 1920, shortly after the establishment of the first communist parties in America.-Early years:The...
as well as the Communist Youth of Greece
Communist Youth of Greece
The Communist Youth of Greece, is the youth wing of the Communist Party of Greece .It publishes the monthly newspaper Odigitis and hosts Odigitis festivals in most of the major towns and cities of Greece....
.
Affiliations
- World Federation of Democratic YouthWorld Federation of Democratic YouthThe World Federation of Democratic Youth is a progressive youth organization, recognized by the United Nations as an international youth non-governmental organization. WFDY describes itself as an "anti-imperialist, left-wing" organisation...
The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) is a left-wing anti imperialist youth organization.
- Communist Party of IrelandCommunist Party of IrelandThe Communist Party of Ireland is a small all-Ireland Marxist party, founded in 1933. An earlier party, the Socialist Party of Ireland, was renamed the Communist Party of Ireland in 1921 on its affiliation to the Communist International but was dissolved in 1924. The present-day CPI was founded in...