The Summer School has seen current and former leaders of the Labour Party come through the doors in the last thirty years, and they have no doubt been inspired and energised by the events of the weekend in the years gone by, and as we announce the launch of the 2024 Summer
School, I have no doubt that the future leaders of our great party will be galvanised and motivated in the same way.
The theme of this years Summer School is “A New Vision for A New Republic”, and the programme of events reflects the ambitions for Ireland which Labour Youth members aspire to realise. We will be hearing from current and future leaders of our trade union movement, migrant women who stood for our party in the Local Elections, advocates for a country free from the scourge of gender based violence, and comrades from our European sister parties on the social democratic lessons learned from Europe throughout 2024. These panels go to the heart of what we in Labour Youth stand for- trade unionism, multiculturalism, internationalism, and justice for all.
The primary focus of the Summer School each year is on education. In addition to the educational value of our panels, this year we are introducing the Labour Youth Political Academy, which will focus on socialist politics, canvassing and campaigning. The framework for the Political Academy sessions was developed by our comrades in JUSOS Germany, who we extend our warmest thanks to for sharing their programme and allowing us to adapt it to the Irish political context.
The first electoral test of the Labour Party under our new leader has been a success, with gains in former Labour strongholds such as Limerick, Kilkenny and Galway, as well as a breakthrough in Sligo and advances in Dublin, Tipperary and Cork. The election of our comrade Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin signifies a changing mood amongst the Irish electorate for the party, and we are delighted to say that Aodhán will be joining us at the Summer School for a sit down to discuss his career to date and his ambitions for the next five years in Europe.
Labour members up and down the country have witnessed success in this election- some for the very first time. I feel that more is to come. We have a great opportunity ahead in the General Election to build on the foundations of a party which is now starting to grow again, and I can’t think of a better way to leverage this goodwill and momentum than attending the Tom Johnson Summer School from the 27th-29th of September.
Join us by purchasing a ticket when they become available on Monday, the 29th of July. We can’t wait for as many of you as possible to join us as we look ahead to a bright future for our party and for the country which we will shape in the years to come.
Conal O’Boyle
Editor, Left Tribune