In this episode we talk to Mags O’Brien about her political background; the divorce referendum campaigns of 1986 and 1995; her experience with the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza in 2011 - which was captured at sea and the crew held in an Israeli jail - and subsequent Palestine solidarity work with Gaza Action Ireland; her work as a tutor with the SIPTU College and combining her activism and trade unionism; and Left Lives in 20th Century Ireland Vol. 4 – Women, which was published last year and is edited by Mags.
Mags is a trade union activist and tutor at SIPTU College. She has been involved in many campaigns, including as Chair of the Divorce Action Group during the 1995 divorce referendum. She is part of the ICTU Global Solidarity Committee and has served as Chair of Trade Union Friends of Palestine. She has formerly been in Labour as part of Labour Left, and briefly in Democratic Left.
You’ll find the Left Lives series of books on the Umisken Press website.
The Irish Left Archive Podcast looks at Left politics in Ireland, talking to activists, writers, historians, politicians and others involved in Left organisations and movements about their experiences of participating in Left parties and campaigns. The podcast is hosted by Ciarán Swan and Aonghus Storey.
View this episode on our website: #37: Mags O'Brien: Divorce Action Group, Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Women and Trade Unionism.