ONE Conversation

In episode number 15 of ONE Conversation, The Making of an Activist, Fiona Dunne talks to Linda Kelly, National Officer with Fórsa trade union and feminist activist. They talk about a range of roles which Linda has had throughout her career including in student union politics, working with Fórsa trade union as an organiser, then as the Director of Training & Development and now, in her current role, as national officer with responsibility for social and health care workers.It’s a story which started in secondary school involving a campaign to change the uniform rules for girls, inspired by a similar issue with Bank of Ireland. The campaign was a success, Linda was bitten and the rest as they say is history.She talks about always feeling an incredible need to make positive change, regardless of experiencing her first loss in student union politics at second level, which obviously didn’t deter her. Instead, she got stuck into student union politics at third-level because she was determined to work on behalf of others and change, what she describes as injustice and unfair treatment as she saw them across a range of areas. Linda has always had a sense of her own value and worth and never doubted the importance of her own voice, a sentiment which she carried from school, through college and into the workplace and something which informed her work as Director of Training and Development.As a student of speech and language, she became a class rep and got involved in the UCC Student union where she found her “tribe”, her voice and her platform. She understands that key stakeholders should always be heard and empowered to get involved in discussions regarding issues that have a direct impact on them, which also corresponds with the aims of the trade union movement.Talk then turns to institutional engagement, which can be perceived as positive but can c0nstrainactivists whilst merely ticking boxes, and leads into a broader discussion on power, who has it,who wants it and what to do with it. She is open about her own insecurities and lack of confidence, where the capacity to speakpublicly often gets mistaken for confidence, a feeling which many activists may share. Diversity and equality are central pillars to her work, whether it is bringing diverse opinions to campaigns, raising awareness of gender issues or fighting for better maternity services. Linda is a very strong advocate for removing barriers to access and making progress across the various equality grounds including gender. She also strongly believes in the public sector and the necessity for investing in quality public services.What keeps her going is to keep asking the question, is the treatment/services for women and working people in this country acceptable? Can I make a difference? She suggests the trade union movement can and has made a difference, but that it needs to keep up more with changing society and adapt how we work to the changing needs of workers, including the needs of the new generation of activists. When trade unions thrive, society thrives and families thrive and many people want to make a difference in whatever community they are in, but often don’t know how or have the necessary resources.This conversation is hugely beneficial to anyone who feels they want to engage in their workplace or community and don’t know where to start. Just take Linda’s golden piece of advice and stop talking about it and just do it. Grab a cuppa and join us for an inspiring conversation.

In episode number 14 of ONE Conversation, The Making of an Activist, Fiona Dunne talks to Donna Hyland, a nurse activist with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and thesecretary of the Castlebar Council of Trade Unions. Like all conversations in this podcast, they discuss the power of activism for positive change, the driving factors in her activism and whatkeeps her motivated.It begins with Donna recounting her time as a student nurse and how the impact of the decision to make significant cuts to the pay of student interns, drove many, including her, to take a stand against what was seen as a hugely unfair and disproportionate action. Not only was it unfair, but the process by which this decision was made, without consultation, negotiation or participation with those most affected, was something which grated against her and encouraged her to make her voice heard.Her activities started small, lunch time protests at the hospital, and quickly escalated into more significant actions and participation within the union, which she describes as a really safe space in which to have real discussions about work, working conditions and the environment in which her and her colleagues work. She talks about being a committed community activist because of her pride in where she lives, the benefits to everyone by caring enough to be involved and her belief that she can and should make a positive contribution where she works and lives. Her dedication to those things that matter, the people in your life, are what continues to motivate and drive her to keep going. She talks about the importance of the workplace representative in linking workers to the union, providing information but above all empowering workers to resolve the issues they have within their own workplace.She is also passionate about rejuvenating the role of the Trades Councils and has been hugely active in re-establishing the Castlebar Council of Trade Unions which seeks to raise awareness amongst the general trade union movement and become a resource to support union campaigns locally. She talks about the realisation that individuals can make positive change and how empowering it is to be “the person at the decision-making table”. Her message during this conversation is that decisions are made every day of the week without the direct participation of those who are directly affected so it is important to identify how to make your voice heard and be included in those decision-making processes, whether they are in work, the community or wider society. If you want to get involved in your workplace or your community, then this podcast is for you, Donna makes some very interesting points and provides great guidance if you are new to activism. Inspired to make change? Then have a listen and take action. You and your fellow workers will be glad you did.

In episode number 13 of ONE Conversation, The Making of an Activist, Fiona Dunne talks to Clement Shevlin, an organiser with SIPTU, a member of the ONE Galway initiative and a community activist in Claregalway where he currently lives. They talk about the power of activism, particularly in the community, his motivation to make change locally and how he ended up working for the biggest trade union in the country. The conversation begins with Clem reflecting on his early years in his native town of Belmullet, in Co. Mayo and talks about the closeness of the community, something which he remembers as an organic feature of how people lived, always looking out for each other and becoming, as he describes it, “super heroes” in the town by espousing solidarity and displaying a real sense of community spirit. He talks at length about the local priest, his original inspiration, and goes on to detail how, outside of his remit as a priest, he rallied the community into working together to establish a community centre. But most importantly were the lessons Clem learned during this period, from understanding the importance of his own contribution to his community to realising that “the key to activism is making the activist feel like they own it”, something which he refers to again and again throughout the conversation and which he embeds into his own work today.Coming from a rural community, Clem inevitably discusses emigration and bringing the sense of community to the cities of London and Boston, in which he lived and worked for many years, before resettling back in Ireland in County Galway. With a renewed sense of purpose, he engaged locally to create a real community or his own children and strives to improve the space they are in to ensure they have a better quality of life. Clem admits he’s building community all the time, but acknowledges that whilst not everyone will help, he focusses on those who are willing to engage which although small in number are large in effect. The conversation moves on to discuss worker empowerment, the power of the group, union training and how these tools help you make real change. He shares some nuggets of wisdom about his union activism (listen carefully) recounting experiences from SIPTU’s Big Start campaign in which he has been a key player from the beginning, likening this work to creating a family within childcare, watching out for each other and working to improve their conditions which has resulted in negotiations on a JLC (he does explain this) which is a big deal.As you listen you will hear his passion for what he is doing now that “he has found a home for himself”, empowering workers to speak up for themselves, engaging with local politicians to better understand workers’ experiences in order to make change and explaining the importance of research to any campaign, from Big Start to the successful ONE Galway tipping campaign which has been credited with changing some practices in hospitality, particularly around Galway. If you are unsure about what real activism is then listen to this great conversation with someone who is a natural born activist, who encourages, engages and motivates people across the country to make change. You will not only be inspired but determined to make a difference wherever you are.

In episode number 12 of ONE Conversation, The Making of an Activist Fiona Dunne talks to Mohammad Naeem, a student activist and Regional Student Liaison Officer with the ISSU, about his introduction to activism, balancing school work with taking action and what prompted him to get involved in the range of topics in which he is currently engaged.This episode starts with Mohammad referencing the effect his parents have had on his activism when they instilled in him the principles of honesty and solidarity, and how he understood at quite a young age that small acts of kindness and helpfulness is important to a good society. It moves then to identifying how his activism began in primary school, with simple acts relating to the green and climate change agenda, realising that he could make changes himself, before moving on through to working with the ISSU to support students at second-level.He found the “silver lining” during Covid when, at his finger-tips, he found the online world offered opportunities to delve into the world of activism across a range of topics, simply because there were no barriers or travelling challenges which a young person might ordinarily encounter. And Mohammad is all too familiar with such challenges living in a rural community in Mayo.He is a real self-starter and described how he used his TY year to great personal advantage and found opportunities to attend events and build his activism skills. Although online at first, it gave him the confidence to continue when the world returned to in-person events. At first daunted by the prospect of travelling to Dublin alone for the first time, he described the world of activism as “meeting people who will help you …everyone is really helpful in the activism world”. And described how Dublin colleagues met him from the train and accompanied him along to events until he found his feet and his confidence grew. He speaks about leading a group of 44 regional officers and the type of work they do from running national campaigns at a local level to establishing projects locally, such as the Cork Consent Conference, which is the first of it’s kind run by the ISSU initiated by their regional officers in Cork.He then talks about the importance of his education, how he wishes to do well in school and how he learned to balance his activism with his studies, which is hugely important not just for his future but to keep up with current school work. For anyone considering getting involved in student politics, not sure how to start or if this is for them, then this is the podcast for you. Be prepared to be inspired and be prepared to get active.Have a listen to this entirely honest and inspiring conversation which provides insight not just to student politics but the day to day challenges students successfully navigate around.

In episode number 11 of ONE Conversation, The Making of an Activist Fiona Dunne talks to Angela Flynn, an activist and outgoing President of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), about her ongoing activism in the workplace, her local community and within politics.The conversation begins with Angela reflecting on the influence her parents’ activism had on her life. As secondary school teachers and members of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) their involvement in trade unionism was seen as a natural part of working life and she describes this activity within their household as “what you just did”. And whilst they may not have influenced her career choice per se, studying for her nursing degree in the UK when that wasn’t an option in Ireland, they certainly influenced her activism which began during a particularly difficult time for nursing in England.Starting with the student union she found great camaraderie amongst the group which was in stark contrast to her account of stepping up her activism whilst working in the NHS. As she watched “the Tory Government dismantle the NHS” she was suitably shocked at the level of inaction by her colleagues, where petition signing was even a challenge. And whilst she felt the union at the time wasn’t ready for those challenges, it is something which the INO (currently INMO) couldn’t be accused of later, when Angela joined them in Cork in industrial action in the late 1990s.Whilst she takes us through her activism, she asks some pertinent questions throughout such as “how do we perceive ourselves in society, as an individual or part of a collective?”, or is neo-liberal ideology “forcing us to just look out for ourselves because the state probably won’t”. Questions which all activists should consider when looking at the broader issues and challenges they face. She praises the union’s struggles and credits them with the establishment of the Commission on Nursing and the subsequent developments in education and professionalism, posing the question, “do our new recruits know that the development of the profession is through their union?”The conversation then takes us through her role as a lecturer in health and her encouragement of nurses and students alike to have a role in social justice and be part of change. Moving on, the conversation takes in academic freedom, the role of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, community activism from Macroom for Yes to challenging the system of Direct Provision and finally to her political activism with the Social Democrats whose “goals and ambitions matches with my personal politics”. And that is where Angela’s real gift is in this conversation, she is not only active herself but constantly questions what is being done, is it the right thing and can more be done and done better. Her parting advice to activists “don’t focus on problems or negative issues too much” and suggests we all should “be in solidarity with people, even when we ourselves don’t need it”.Join us for a great conversation not just about activism, but questioning how and why we are active.

In our tenth episode of the ONE Conversation podcast series, The Making of an Activist Fiona Dunne chats with Moira Leydon, Assistant General Secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) a lifelong trade union and political activist. This is an amazing conversation which is not just a personal account of her experiences but also a social and political commentary on the changes which can be traced throughout Moira’s life. It is clear from the outset that Moira’s passion is not just about activism and righting social injustices but specifically educational activism, which is central to her current role today with the ASTI. We begin by discussing the early influences on her life which began within her “history conscious family” in Sligo. She recounts her first experience of what she describes as her “rebellion” at 8 years of age, which was essentially the first time she was conscious of gender inequality resulting in detention however, all of these experiences is remembered with fondness. The conversation moves from Sligo to Dublin, and onwards to Germany and Prague where Moira practiced activism within the student movement and later politically, all at a time where she explains ideological and political battles were being played out on college campuses.Although quite young she was exhilarated by the political debates and dialogues and believes it was both her education and her extensive reading that gave her the capacity and confidence to engage in such discussions. She also describes the huge level of respect shown to her within those political circles because she wanted to make change, an important requirement for all activists.Throughout the conversation Moira reflects on her experiences and motivations and is brutally honest about what she describes as her “moral breakdown” when discussing the radical shift in her political thinking, influenced mainly by her time spent in Prague. It then moves to her role in the ASTI, the importance of activism in the education space and of dialogue. She believes activism never goes away but just changes form, and offers gems of advice for aspiring activists from listening to young people, engaging out of your social bubble to communicating well. On sustaining her motivation she feels privileged to have the choice to “keep going” as many others have far greater injustices to deal with and suggests that it is where there are crimes against humanity and a wrong is so profound that you can’t but keep engaged. Taking inmovements from anti-apartheid to the quest for a Palestinian state, this conversation is a fantastic introduction to activism both at home and abroad and will be of interest to those involved in seeking to correct “grave injustices”.Come with us for a conversation which is international in outlook but local at heart, it really is worth the listen.

In our 8 th episode of ONE Conversation’s The Making of an Activist, we meet Maeve Ricardson, an incredible student leader from Tipperary who has been engaged in her community and student politics from a young age. Like many other guests in this series, she had early inspiration and encouragement from her family who have diverse interests from the Irish Farmers’ Association to the creative arts.This is a wonderful conversation during which Maeve traces her changing attitudes, developing social conscience and realisation that there are many who are under-represented in society, have no voice and need strong champions. We talk about her initial push in Transition year to become active, at first to make new friends but then fired up to “look out for those who are under-represented”. She also acknowledges the lack of power in local government which forced her to shift her focus and seek to engage with an organisation with a broader scope and national agenda.Her honesty and commitment are truly refreshing as she recounts her reasons for becoming an activist such as her autism, experiencing anxiety in her early teenage years and coming out just before the Marriage Referendum. For some that would present challenges and barriers, for Maeve she realised that she was in a more privileged position than others such as transgender individuals; these are the words of a true equality champion, and she continues to campaign to remove challenges which many young people face.It is therefore unsurprising that Maeve has focussed on equality, communications and engagement and superbly links them throughout her work, whether it was with Comhairle na nÓg, the Irish Second-level Students’ Union or UCC Students’ Union. However, her frustration is truly evident when speaking about the education system and its lack of education in civic engagement for young people, sexual health and education along with an absence of other players such as trade unions and the community with students. The conversation covers a lot of ground including her work with UCC Students Union and the crisis which students face not only in rising registration fees, but a lack of affordable accommodation and the reliance on regular food banks. She provides marvellous insights into how she views activism and reminds us that all weneed is passion and not a niche to get involved, and believes that all change no matter how small is important “small on the ground issues which ignite, they start a spark which becomes a flame which starts an activist”.If you want to know what true activism is, have a listen and get inspired.

In episode number 7, Fiona Dunne goes behind the scenes with Uachtarán (President) of the Irish Second-level Students’ Union (ISSU), Emer Neville, to talk about how she first became involved in activism and what has led her to her current position.Emer hails from Tipperary and comes from a long line of activists who first cut their teeth with Comhairle na nÓg and seem to have a direct line into the Executive of the ISSU. From the outset of this interview, we get the sense of the sheer determination of this young woman, from when she recounts lying down on the pitch in protest at being forced to take part in school sports, to watching her grandmother deal with challenges she experienced as a publican.We also talk about what motivates her throughout this activist career and learn that she lives by the motto “if you see something and want to change it, just do it”. Something we can all learn from.She takes us through her activism, since primary school, right up to the present day recounting the importance of networking, mentoring and building relations with and for students and young people.She understands the power of raising awareness and talking to people to get a better insight into their world, through her work as a volunteer with a direct provision centre where she and her colleagues, were clear at what they wanted to achieve and how they wished to achieve it, by learning from and listening to others’ experiences. If you have any interest in activism or wish to simply be inspired to get involved in your community, your school, college or workplace, then take a short break, grab a cuppa and have a listen, it truly is worth it.