Following on from last September and October (which saw the most successful Labour Youth recruitment drive ever), Labour Youth have been recruiting again in January and February. NUI Maynooth, DIT and UCD have all seen additional membership jumps, while new youth branches are now being established in Cavan and in IT Tallaght.

There are also a considerable number of events coming up over the next few months. Most importantly, the details for the Tom Johnson Summer School have now been confirmed, and it will take place in Langton's Hotel, Kilkenny from 2nd-4th July. Once speakers are confirmed, all members will receive details on how to register. Additionally, the inaugural Connolly Lecture on Social Justice will take place on March 19th in the Robert Emmet Theatre, TCD. Dr. Mary Murphy (NUI Maynooth and Labour Party Executive Board) and Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy (Focus Ireland) will be the speakers on the night, and this event is open to all.

These events follow on from a very successful event (co-hosted by Labour Equality and Labour Women) on Abortion Rights and Pro-Choice Campaigning. This event took place on February 19th, with Senator Ivana Bacik and Ann Rossiter as the main speakers.

Of course, the primary focus of Labour Youth remains on being a campaigning organisation, and this has been reflected in our ongoing campaigns against youth unemployment, and against discrimination of Palestinians in Shuhada Street in Hebron. Most noticeably, this month sees Labour Youth members fighting Students' Union elections in UCD, NUI Maynooth, UCC, DIT and NUI Galway. Victory in those races will set Labour Youth up for continued campaigning activity throughout the year.

With leaflets on abortion rights, trade union awareness and workers' rights gone to the printers, this campaigning activity is set to continue. There's also a new edition of the Left Tribune with the printers, which will be circulated in the run up to Party Conference in April.

Rory Geraghy is Chair of Labour Youth