British trade union leader Mick Lynch has been announced as one of keynote speakers for the first ever Robert Tressell Festival to be held in Dublin in May.
The event will include discussions on the themes raised in the book ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists‘ by Robert Noonan, who was born in Dublin but who wrote the book under the pen name Robert Tressell while working in England.
The general secretary of the RMT union representing railway workers in Britain Mick Lynch has ascended to considerable prominence over the last year in which his organisation was involved in several contentious disputes with industry employers.
The son of two Irish parents, he has spoken previously of the influence The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists and its author on his political development.
Phil Ní Sheaghdha of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is the other keynote speakers, known for her dogged and tireless work in promoting the cause of many under-pressure and over-stressed nurses in the Irish hospital network
The festival is to include seminars on subjects including the life of Noonan, trade union responses to immigration and integration, and the organisation of low-paid workers. There will also be a musical element to the day.
“We hope that this will the first of what will evolve into an annual event,” said Mary Muldowney, historian-in-residence at Dublin City Council and one of the organisers.
A number of the country’s largest trade unions are supporting the initiative. British left-wing publication Tribune is also involved in its organisation.
“The festival is intended to promote the objectives and values of trade unionism as well as provide a space for discussion on the challenges facing working people today,” said Seamus McDonagh of the organising committee.
The event will take place at Liberty Hall in Dublin on May 6th. More information is available at https://tressellfestival.ie/ with ticketing details expected to be announced next week.
