Editing Connolly Youth Movement

The '''Connolly Youth Movement''' ({{lang-ga|Ógra Uí Chonghaile}}, often abbreviated as '''CYM''' ) is an [[all-Ireland]] [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninist]] youth organisation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cym.ie/constitution/|title=Constitution|date=28 March 2018|website=Connolly Youth Movement |language=en-GB|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref> It is a member of the [[World Federation of Democratic Youth]]. It takes its name from the revolutionary socialist [[James Connolly]].

==History and current status==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}
The CYM was founded in 1963 by young republicans who were influenced by the Communist Party during the [[Dublin Housing Action Committee|Dublin Housing Action]] struggle. In 1970 with the merger of the [[Irish Workers' Party]] and [[Communist Party of Northern Ireland]], to form the Communist Party of Ireland, the [[Northern Ireland Young Communist League]] joined the CYM, with [[Madge Davison]] as its general secretary. The CYM disbanded in 1991 due to a reduction in membership following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] and [[Revolutions of 1989|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. The Connolly Youth Movement has relations with a number of young [[communist]] organisations around the world. The Connolly Youth Movement attends the [[:Meeting of European Communist Youth Organizations]] (MECYO).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://es.kke.gr/en/articles/--00972/|title=Message of support of the Communist Youth Organizations|website=Communist Party of Greece |access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref>

The CYM supported the programme of the [[Communist Party of Ireland]] until a vote of the membership rescinded it at an Extraordinary Ard Fheis on 9 January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 January 2021|title=CYM Statement on Disaffiliation|url=https://cym.ie/2021/01/18/cym-statement-on-disaffiliation/|access-date=18 January 2021|website=Connolly Youth Movement |language=en-GB}}</ref> In February 2021, the Communist Party of Ireland issued a statement stating that several dual (CPI-CYM) members had been expelled for alleged breaches of discipline and factional behaviour within the CPI prior to the CYM's decision to drop its support for the programme of the CPI.<ref>[https://communistpartyofireland.ie/r-2021-02-09.html] Statement on CPI-CYM relations, Communist Party of Ireland, www.communistpartyofireland.ie, 9 February 2021.</ref>

==Activities==
In 2017, members of the Cork branch of the Connolly Youth Movement occupied and re-purposed three derelict buildings near [[University College Cork|UCC]] as part of an initiative to highlight [[Homelessness in Ireland|rising levels of homelessness]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Group-squat-in-Cork-house-to-highlight-crisis-aabff202-e5d3-4a5b-bb1a-6cafc1f82bd7-ds |title=Group squat in Cork house to highlight crisis |newspaper=[[Evening Echo]] |access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uccexpress.ie/students-face-eviction-from-liberated-building/|title=Students face eviction from liberated building {{!}} University Express|date=8 November 2017|website=UCC Express|language=en-GB|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref>  In 2018, two of these buildings were repossessed by the [[Garda Emergency Response Unit]] acting in conjunction with a contractor for the O'Dwyer Asset Management Company that owned the vacant properties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-40163559.html|title=Gardaí evict anti-homelessness protestors|date=1 August 2018|newspaper=Evening Echo }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cym.ie/2018/07/26/armed-response-unit-break-up-political-protest-in-cork-ireland/|title=Armed Response Unit Break Up Political Protest in Cork, Ireland |date=26 July 2018|website=CYM}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/north-frederick-street-looks-like-proof-that-the-system-is-conspiring-against-the-people-1.3628003 |title=North Frederick Street looks like proof that the system is conspiring against the people|first=Una|last=Mullally|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> The first occupation, still ongoing as of 2021, is referred to as Connolly Barracks by the organisation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/hot-press/20191218/282046213995457 |date=23 January 2020 |title=Cork's Connolly Barracks |publisher=Hot Press }}</ref>

The Connolly Youth Movement was involved in highly publicised instances of [[direct action]] in 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uccexpress.ie/cym-disrupt-simon-coveney-event-in-ucc/|title=Connolly Youth Movement Disrupt Simon Coveney Event in UCC {{!}} University Express|date=10 October 2018|website=UCC Express|language=en-GB|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref> and 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/fine-gael-cork-meeting-4615959-May2019/|title='Have you a job? Have you a job?' – Tense exchanges as FG Cork meeting disrupted by protesters|last=Duffy|first=Rónán|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/varadkar-calls-protesters-who-halted-fine-gael-meeting-anti-democratic-1.3877841 |title=Varadkar calls protesters who halted Fine Gael meeting 'anti-democratic' |last=Roche|first=Barry|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref> when members of the movement disrupted [[Fine Gael]] public meetings in Cork in protest of government policy in relation to homelessness and wealth inequality. One such action was criticised by Taoiseach [[Leo Varadkar]], who stated "I think no matter what political party you come from or what your political views, we should all be committed to democracy and freedom of speech and trying to shout other people down and trying to shut down their meetings is profoundly anti-democratic".<ref>{{cite news |last=Roche |first=Barry |date=1 May 2019 |title=Varadkar calls protesters who halted Fine Gael meeting 'anti-democratic' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/varadkar-calls-protesters-who-halted-fine-gael-meeting-anti-democratic-1.3877841 |newspaper=[[Irish Times]] |location= |access-date=22 January 2021}}</ref> The organisation responded that it had a right to challenge and question the government on policy issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/taoiseach-brands-cork-protest-profoundly-undemocratic-921495.html|title=Taoiseach brands Cork protest 'profoundly undemocratic'|date=2 May 2019|website=Breaking News|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref> In a March 2020 interview, then CYM General Secretary Alex Homits stated "Socialism will not and cannot be delivered through the ballot box and the CYM and its membership will not lie about this or endorse those who do."<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Norton |first=Alexander |date=4 March 2020 |title=Red ambition: the Connolly Youth Movement in 2020 |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/red-ambition-connolly-youth-movement-2020 |publisher=[[Morning Star (British newspaper)|Morning Star]] |location= |access-date=22 January 2021}}</ref>

== Policies and Ideology ==
{{Expand section|date=May 2021}}
The CYM is constitutionally a socialist-republican and Marxist-Leninist organisation. In July 2022 it published a new programme, ''Cause of Youth, Cause of Ireland.''<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-11-07 |title=Programme {{!}} Clár - |language=en-GB |url=https://cym.ie/programme/ |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref> It also released a ten point programme expressing a commitment to Irish unity, civil rights, the revival of Irish culture, free education, action on climate change, promotion of the Irish language, free healthcare on an all-Ireland basis, a public housing programme, international solidarity, and "a comprehensive system of worker's rights".

In 2020 the CYM's then General Secretary Alex Homits stated that "poverty and trafficking are the leading creators of sex workers."<ref name=":0" /> The CYM have offered solidarity to those engaged in sex work, and support for decriminalisation of the purchase of sex.<ref>{{Cite web|last=CYM Editorial Team|date=4 June 2020|title=When Sex Workers Win, All Women Win|url=https://cym.ie/2020/06/04/when-sex-workers-win-all-women-win/|url-status=live|website=cym.ie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819052922/https://cym.ie/2020/06/04/when-sex-workers-win-all-women-win/ |archive-date=19 August 2020 }}</ref>

==Publications==
The CYM irregularly publishes a print magazine titled ''Forward,'' with online articles published under the same title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cym.ie/category/forward/|title=Forward|website=CYM}}</ref>

==Affiliations==
* [[World Federation of Democratic Youth]], a left-wing anti imperialist youth organization

==Prominent past members of CYM==
* [[Madge Davison]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/s-davison.html|title=Communist Party of Ireland|website=www.communistpartyofireland.ie|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref>
* [[Declan Bree]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.declanbree.com/|title=Home - DeclanBree.com|website=www.declanbree.com}}</ref> – served as Chairperson of the CYM
* [[Brendan O'Carroll]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lookleft.ie/2012/12/irvine-welsh-backs-bridge-for-fellow-hibs-man-connolly/|title=Irvine Welsh backs bridge for fellow Hibs man Connolly|website=www.lookleft.ie|date=17 December 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.cym.ie/}}
* [https://issuu.com/connollyyouthmovement/ Archive of Forward Issues]


[[Category:Irish Marxists]]
[[Category:Irish socialists]]
[[Category:Irish trade unionists]]
[[Category:Irish republicans]]
[[Category:Socialists]]
[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:Youth Wing]]