America’s longshoremen are set to do some heavy-lifting for a Belfast Irish language youth club which has had to put new-build plans on hold due to a funding shortfall.
In one of the biggest-ever donations from a U.S. labor union to an Irish charity, the fiercely pro-Irish International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is pledging to raise the $600,000 to allow work on a new hall for youth club Glór na Móna in the heart of West Belfast.
As a gesture of thanks, the groundbreaking Gaeilge youth club will name the new hall after International Longshoremen's Association President Harold Daggett, a descendant of 19th Century emigrants from Belfast whose motto is "never back down."
The ILA learnt of the youth club's plight from Red Hook Terminal VP Tom Griffith who joined a delegation to visit the Glór na Móna project during last October's Belfast International Homecoming, and swiftly agreed to step forward to ensure the vital project could go ahead.
In a passionate appeal to the ILA membership for donations — which has already brought in over $300k from union 'Locals' — ILA Vice President Dennis Daggett (a son of Harold) said the Glór na Móna youth club resonated with the union's core values.
"I want to speak from the heart about an initiative that reaches beyond our docks, our jurisdictions and our shores — but brings us right back to who we are," he wrote.
"Glór na Móna, a grassroots organisation that embodies the very spirit of our movement — uplifting the working class through education, empowerment and pride.
This project is more than just a building. It's a symbol of unity across oceans that reflects our Irish-American heritage, our history on the piers of Manhattan, our fierce defence of working people and our shared belief that every child deserves a chance - no matter where they’re born."
Over recent months, the Glór na Móna team has been working behind the scenes with ILA leaders to seal the historic funding deal, with former West Belfast Sinn Féin President and Irish Echo columnist Gerry Adams, who enjoys warm relations with the U.S. union movement, playing a key role.
“On behalf of everyone at Glór na Móna we want to say a huge go raibh míle maith agaibh to the International Longshoremen’s Association for their incredible decision to support our project," said Glór na Móna director Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh.
"Many of us in Ireland, followed and commended the ILA landmark strike and union victory last year where they brought the U.S. ports to a standstill on behalf of worker rights.
In addition, Belfast Gaels of a previous generation are also indebted to the Longshoremen for their solidarity one-day boycott back in 1981 in support of Bobby Sands during the Hunger Strikes.
Their support now for a different generation will enable us to bridge the funding gap for the Croí na Carraige project."
Feargal added: “We have planning permission to build a purpose-built youth, community and heritage facility on the site. We have been successful in securing some funds but are short of our target.
"We are currently at breaking point.
"We cater for over 200 young people every week and our current facilities here are simply not big enough for our youth projects.
"It’s over 27 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and our young people are still being housed in temporary mobile cabins. It is simply not good enough.
"We can’t wait about any longer and we're forced to begin raising money ourselves. We are indebted to the ILA for coming to our aid in our hour of need.
Their intervention is an inspirational example of international solidarity at its best."
