Come back, comrades

Traditionally staged around August 9 in protest against internment in 1971, the festival has grown in size and stature since it first began in 1988.

From the Feile website we learn: "Soon the street confrontations associated with the week around August 9 were displaced by a positive display of the community and its creativity.

"Our carnival parade routinely brings over 50,000 participants for a colourful, musical procession with specially designed floats."

This year the Communist Party of Ireland will contribute once again with a 7pm meeting at St Mary's College, Falls Road, on Thursday August 5.

It will be chaired by long-time political activist Joe Bowers with guest speaker Kevin McCorry speaking on national democracy, issues and ta

sks in the 21st century.

Kevin was the organiser of the Civil Rights Association during the time of the Bloody Sunday march. A member of Unite and the People's Movement, he was active in both No campaigns against the Lisbon Treaty.

This civil rights campaigner is now turning his attention to democratic rights - or the lack of them - under the European Union.

"British state policy is to be seen primarily in an EU context. Ulster unionism has historically had a deep distrust and hostility to the EU and its pretensions," he argues.

"There exists an opportunity to explore the potential of that. Northern unionists now have an objective interest in taking up the struggle for national democracy and independence in the new forms it is assuming today because of the EU."

To those trade unionists and political activists who came to Belfast in the '70s and '80s to support the civil rights movement, if you have not been back, maybe it's time you came to experience a different political and cultural scene.

For more information visit www.feilebelfast.com and www.communistpartyofireland.ie

Lynda Walker Belfast