Celebrating May Day: International Worker's Day 2025

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Ireland Branch have taken part in annual May Day March and Rallies across Ireland to mark International Worker's Day.

The main demonstrations in both Dublin and Cork, took place on May 1st while across the North, in Belfast and Derry, commemorative events rallied on the first Saturday of the month. The majority of Ireland's trade union movement had been widely represented in each of the location's with a variety of local speakers. At most of the of events, speakers spoke of the ongoing genocide in Palestine as well as an overall rejection of war. Many speakers called out the growing debate and uncertainty of Irish neutrality, militarism, NATO and the use of Shannon Airport.

An IWW representative in Derry, spoke following the march and rally there. They joined with other trade unionists to call-out the deliberate targeting of journalists and the increase of the far-right on the streets.

"As a gesture of international solidarity with journalists, many today wore distinctive blue Press vests to help highlight the deliberate targeting of journalists. This is a deliberate effort by many regimes, to silence the reporting of genocide and other war crimes.

"As a union we have repeatedly condemned these war crimes and welcome fellow workers highlighting these also from union platforms across the country on international worker's day."

Prior to the annual Derry May Day March, many people travelled to Letterkenny to attend an anti-racist counter mobilisation. Speaking following that event an IWW spokesperson said: "We must not allow racists, no matter what flag the wave, to attempt to divide workers, to divide our class. Whether that racist division occurs in our homes, in our places of work or on the streets. No matter where they raise their heads, we must be their to challenge them.

"The people of Donegal have taken a stand against hate and division. Every attempt by those who seek to blame 'the other' for society's problems must be challenged.

"They attempt to blame the migrant worker, or the foreigner for our housing problems, our health or unemployment problems instead of the rich, the bosses and the politicians. This is sadly the age old lie of racism, just like sectarianism, which is spread by those to deflect attention any form the real enemy. We will not allow hate and division to go unchallenged here in Letterkenny, in Buncrana, in Derry or in Dublin."