GRALTON DEPORTATION REMEMBERED IN LEITRIM

AWARD WINNING Film Director Ken Loach and a number of members of the cast of the upcoming movie on the life of socialist Jimmy Gralton were among those who participated in a commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary of the deportation of the famous Leitrim socialist.

The event took place yesterday evening at the site of Gralton’s “Pearse-Connolly Hall” at Effernagh, Co Leitrim.

Guest speakers at the event included Ken Loach, Paul Gralton, Sligo socialist councillor Declan Bree, screen writer Paul Laverty, Joe Murray of Afri, the actress Sorcha Fox and Jim Gralton a cousin of the celebrated socialist.

During the course of the evening Barry Ward who plays the title role in the new film and Simone Kirby who plays the female lead joined Sorcha Fox in a rendition of the well know labour song “Which Side Are You On?”.     ‘Don't scab for the bosses, don't listen to their lies, us poor folks haven't got a chance unless we organise’ they sang to tumultuous applause.

Cllr Declan Bree in his address warned of the current government’s plans to impose further austerity measures and he said “They are imposing a diet of cuts and austerity on the majority of ordinary people while the rich can still go to their fancy restaurants and go shopping in Paris or New York, while the number of second-hand clothes shops and soup kitchens continues to expand throughout the length and breath of the country,

“Ordinary working people need to take sustenance, inspiration and strength from people like Jimmy Gralton and his colleagues, who in the 1930’s, in much more difficult conditions and under profound hardship, gathered the courage to organise themselves to resist the policies of austerity being imposed by the rich and powerful.” said Cllr Bree.

At the conclusion of the event Mr John Cronogue, who presided at the ceremony presented copies of Des Guckians’ book “Deported” and Michael Joe Mahon’s book on the history of the Kiltoghert Creamery Co-op to a number of the guest speakers.