Irish Solidarity Brigades to Nicaragua,by Molly Duffy (ex-brigadista)

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Thursday November 07, 2013 21:19 by lasc

LASC Thursday Night Talks (TNT) -14th November 2013

n the 1980s, when the US-funded a counter-revolutionary war against the Sandinista government , solidarity came from many quarters in the form of diplomatic support, donations and international work brigades. Between 1988 and 1993, 145 people from Ireland participated in a total of 10 solidarity delegations and work brigades. The 'brigadistas' engaged in several weeks' work in the countryside followed by a political programme of meetings and visits with different sectors of Nicaraguan society.

The aim of the brigades was to help raise production, but more importantly, the Sandinistas and brigade organisers sought to enlist the brigadistas' support for the revolutionary government in its efforts to win the international media war.

Irish brigadistas came from all walks of life, and raised £1,500.00 each to finance their trip. Not since the International Brigades to Spain in the 1930's had so many Irish people undertaken such an arduous, expensive and sometimes dangerous trip to offer solidarity to people they didn't know. What motivated them and what did they achieve? Did the brigades contribute to the fact that "no Irish diplomat would feel free to take anything but a progressive line on Nicaragua" ? (Michael D. Higgins). How did the nature of the brigades change over the course of time? What is the place of these brigades in the history of international solidarity in Ireland? Did solidarity imply passive acquiescence with unpalatable practices? What links did brigade members make between solidarity with Nicaragua and solidarity at home? Did brigades bring more benefits to brigade members or to the cause?

When: 14th November, @ 18:00

Where: LASC office: 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2