Two Successful Shell to Sea Meetings in Cork

cork | environment | news report

Saturday February 18, 2006 03:12

by james mc barron - wsm

Micheal O Sheighin of the Rossport five and Tracy Ryan of the Solidarity camp addressed two successful public meetings one in Clonakilty and one in Cork city.

The West Cork Shell to Sea group hosted the first meeting in Clonakilty on Wednesday the 15th with over thirty in attendance. There was a good rapport between the local audience and the two campaigners. A lot of dialogue and encouragement. Members of the Bantry Action Group who are fighting invasive pylons beside their homes were in attendance and drew parallells with their own situation. The local paper the Southern Star sent a photographer and reporter along. Local Councillor Cionnaith O Suilleabhain and a local Shell to Sea activist also addressed the meeting.

The following day there was a meeting with the CHASE (Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment) campaigners during the day. CHASE are fighting the building of a toxic waste incinerator in Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour. In the evening a meeting of over one hundred people in Cork city gave an enthusiastic reception to the campaigners. The meeting broke in to 7 smaller work groups to discuss possible action and tactics and then returned to the open format with reportbacks and then the usual questions and contributions. This formula used now in several campaigns in Cork has proved invaluable in achieving high levels of participation by people at the meetings and subsequently in actions.

Both meetings were self financing with a surplus on both nights from collections.

Micheal was interviewed by Cork County Sound and by 96FM Corks two biggest local radio stations.

Micheal emphasised the importance of the building of this peoples movement to achieve success and he expressed gratitude for the support he and his friends received whilst in prison. This was echoed by Cathlin when she addressed the Cork city meeting both as gaelige and in english.

Tracy Ryan outline the plans of the camp for the coming year and its importance in terms of solidarity. All are welcome young or old for short or long stays.

Talking to people after the meetings this poster can safely say there is a strong pool of people working and willing to work on the issue. It is also clear that the Rossport campaign has inspired and uplifted many campaigners around the country, working on various issues, who may have felt isolated or worn down by the tactics of the state and private companies.