Congress Announces Details of First Dublin May Day Festival

21 Apr 2011

Congress today (April 21) announced details of the 2011 May Day Festival, the first event of its kind to be held in the capital.

The festival will run from April 28 to May 7 and will feature lectures, debates, music, poetry readings and a public demonstration on May 1.

It has been jointly organised by Congress, the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and the Larkin Hedge School.

The Festival will open on Thursday April 28, with a ceremony to mark Workers' Memorial Day, an international commemoration of those who have lost their lives due to work related injuries or illness. The focus of this year's event will be on work-related suicide and there will be contributions from unions and organisations working in the area of suicide prevention.

The Festival will also host a series of lunchtime talks on issues such as: Trade Union Rights in Ireland and the EU; Resolution of the EU Debt Crisis; The Competitiveness Pact and the Attack on Wages. The talks will include national and international contributors. Advance booking is required.

There will be a public demonstration taking place on Sunday, May 1, with the theme: 'Resist Austerity - There is a Better, Fairer Way'.

From May 5 to May 7 it is the turn of the Larkin Hedge School, a festival of music, song, dance, poetry and literature, which is an initiative of the Cle Club. The Larkin Hedge School will be officially opened on May 6 by Michael D. Higgins.

The full May Day Festival programme and online booking facilities can be accessed at http://www.ictu.ie/mayday

Separately, the Northern Ireland Committee of Congress will host a May Day Festival in Belfast, including a full day of events on April 30. Full details are available at www.ictuni.org

 

 

ENDS