You drank cups of Trade Craft instant coffee from Tanzania.
You put magazines out into the world every 3 months.
You attended public seminars that stressed the similarities rather than differences between Ireland and the so-called Third World.
You gained life-long friends.
You grieved for friends you lost.
You attended First Wednesdays, Last Thursdays, First Fridays, hikes on Sunday.
You marched against apartheid.
You were active in Cork, Galway, Donegal, Kilkenny, Cavan, Wexford, Belfast and Limerick
You knew Eustace Street, Baggot Street, Camden Street, Aston Quay, Parliament Street.
You helped pack Comhlamh News, Third World Now, Focus.
You marched against US foreign policy.
You campaigned for more overseas development aid.
You attended autumn public meetings, spring seminars, development forums.
You were an officer, a member, a co-ordinator, receptionist, administrative assistant, treasurer,
a secretary, a chair, a fieldworker, an assistant, a project worker.
You organised pub quizzes for Central America week.
You made banners and placards on the floor alongside others.
You were part of a Coming Home Weekend.
You organised office keys and post boxes for info and support groups set up for Guatemala, Kurdistan, Cambodia, Burma, Congo, and Nicaragua.
Also, for the Irish Mozambique group, MASI, ARASI, Irish Syria Solidarity, Irish Housing Network, Cooking for Freedom, Banulacht.
Also, Irish black and migrant women, Sli Eile, Dublin 4 Gaza and the Irish Marxists; Also, PBI, ARN, Friends of Freedom Theatre in Ireland, Basic Income Ireland, Afghan Social Cultural Centre, Attac Ireland, Irish Feminist Network, The Afghan Times, Refuge for Refugees Ireland.
You marched for trade justice.
You attended weekends away in Glencree, Baltinglass, Cranagh Castle, Westport, Newcastle, Kinsale, Dingle, Doolin and Halloween Hoolies.
You were part of refugee solidarity that looked like late night huddles, trips to the beach and policy campaigning.
You marched for a free Palestine.
You were part of programmes called “the world on our doorstep”, “bringing it all back home”, “living in one world”, “resourcing solidarity”.
You had your mind changed.
You had your assumptions challenged.
You had your ideas tested.
You enjoyed, you grew.
You were part of a place; you are part of a place:
That strives to make and remakes community,
That stands for critical voice in solidarity with others,
That yearns for more justice and transformation,
That doesn’t have all the answers,
That is active locally,
That is thinking globally,
That is Comhlámh.
