Come Here To Me!

(event blurb below)

This is an interesting talk and panel discussion coming up tomorrow at 7pm in Earlsfort Terrace, looking at events in that very building in 1968 when students declared a ‘Liberated UCD’ and student activism was at its peak across Europe. The discussions will look at protest in Ireland then and indeed protest here now. Interestingly, one of the panelists is current Union of Students in Ireland President Gary Redmond.

While some former revolutionaries (Joe Duffy, Kevin Myers and the like) have arguably become a part of the establishment, Gary Redmond’s gone the other way. Below he can be spotted partaking in a Fianna Fáil photoshoot, and who could forget his comments in the media after students wandered in front of Garda batons last November, so he’s come a long way to be talking revolution. Fair play I say.

Sure we were all in Fianna Fáil once....

In all seriousness, the talks at Earlsfort Terrace to date as part of Dublin Contemporary have been excellent, and this one should be interesting with a panel including former UCD student Ruairi Quinn and a representative from the Occupy Dame Street movement. Entrance is free.

Our own Jaycarax has written a wonderful piece in the past on the ‘Gentle Revolution’ and student activism at University College Dublin in the late 1960’s. It can be read on the Hidden History of UCD blog.

In December, a recently formed group, Students for Democratic Action (SDA) held a 400 hundred strong ‘sit-down’ protest outside a meeting of the Academic Council. They were protesting against the Council’s refusal to recognise the Republican Club as a society. The council postponed the meeting with some members managing to leave by the door, others by the window. The SDA then promptly decided that the Academic Council did not merit the authority to recognise the Republican Club. They followed this by declaring their group the real and legitimate Academic Council, voting overwhelming to recognise the Republicans.

Event blurb from Dublin Contemporary website:

In the Winter of 1968, UCD Earlsfort Terrace was declared a ‘Free Zone’ by students who occupied the building demanding a greater involvement in the governance of their university. One of those involved in this so-called ‘Gentle Revolution’ was then a young architecture student and currently the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn.

Over the past twelve months Ireland has seen unprecedented levels of protest across all sectors of our society as well as a landmark change in government.

This discussion will look at the legacy of those sit-ins 43 years ago and question whether there is anything we can learn from them today and the effectiveness of protest as a catalyst for change.

The evening will be hosted by student and broadcaster Dylan Haskins who will interview the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn and then chair a panel discussion which will include Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O’Gorman, journalist and broadcaster Una Mullally , President of the Union of Students, Ireland, Gary Redmond and a representative from the Occupy Dame St. group . The audience are encouraged to join in the debate and admission is free.