UVF training in 1914

Today is the 88th anniversary of the largest 'Mayday' demonstration in Irish history, when what the Belfast Newsletter described as "a little band of disgruntled Red-Socialists" led 100,000 workers through the streets of Belfast. Everywhere else in Ireland in 1919 had also seen massive Mayday demonstrations, with 10,000 demonstrating in Burr Co. Offaly.

Outside of the North East, these had been called for the 1st of May in order "to demonstrate the solidarity of workers and to reaffirm their adhesion to the principles of self-determination". But Belfast marched to a different theme on the 3rd May. Both North and South a massive wave of working class militancy had grown and although these struggles shared a common rhythm they happened in isolation from each other.

The Flood Files:
1916 - Connolly, blood sacrifice and defeating British imperialism | 1916: Just what are we celebrating? | The 1798 Rebellion | Robert Emmett and the 1803 Rising | The Orange Order | Neither Orange nor Green | Troops Out!

A Deflated McCarry Gets An Escort Out .

Caleb McCarry is the senior U.S. official responsible for U.S. government planning to support a "transition to democracy" in Cuba through the President's Commission for Assistance to a "Free" Cuba.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chairs the Commission for Assistance to a "Free" Cuba and named Mr. McCarry as Transition Coordinator in July 2005. The Transition Coordinator reports to the Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs on a day-to-day basis and to the Secretary of State on important policy matters.

McCarry previously served on the majority professional staff of the International Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Related Links: The Friends of Cuba Protest Call | Cuban Ambassador Speaks To Labour Youth | Cuba Support Group Ireland | Maradonna Arrives in Cuba | Castro Alive and Kicking

It's Majority Rule, right? So, Why The Pessimism?

PANA.ie published the results of a poll they commissioned on Irish people's views on the use of Shannon Airport. The Poll was conducted nationally by Lansdowne Market Research Ltd.

Meanwhile Ireland welcomes a new US Military Troop Carrier, Omni Air International. Retired Army Commandant Ed Horgan documented three US warplanes at Shannon for Indymedia and asks questions about Omni Air International and Bush's so-called 'surge.'

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Migrant Workers In Solidarity With Irish Ferries

On 27th of April a spontaneous wildcat strike broke out in MUSGRAVE warehouses in Dublin. The whole crew, around 80 people, both immigrant and natives - in solidarity stopped their work after successive acts of discrimination by the management.

Related Links: Nurses Call For Health System Based On Solidarity | September UCD Report | Polish Workers Wildcat at Tescos | Indymedia Workers Archive SIPTU - Trade Union | IWU - Trade Union | SIPTU Contract Workers Win In UCD | Joanne Delaney Gets Reinstated | Polish Workers Wildcat at Tescos

This morning at 7.30 Dublin Shell to Sea members brought a taste of Mayo to Corrib House. Over 50 people took part in an ongoing blockade of the three entrances of the Shell HQ. The protest was peaceful with protesters linking arms and standing in front of the cars of employees as they attempted to enter the underground car park.

The first few managers got in as the protesters were perhaps caught out by a high level of Gardai aggression. Despite the warm morning several Gardai were observed pulling on heavy padded gloves, one lost it completely and was threatening to 'smash your face in' or 'sort you out afterwards' but most just confined themselves to trying to push the protesters out of the way of incoming cars.

Related Links: A report on the first week of the EPA oral hearing on the IPPC licence for the Corrib Gas refinery | Six arrests in Ballinaboy As 30 Enter Shell Site | Legalised Robbery - Multinationals and Ireland's Natural Resources | Why Occupy Corrib House?