Bernie Sanders to visit Athy this month

THIS May, US Senator Bernie Sanders and social worker and activist Jane O’Meara Sanders will visit Athy to launch the next plaque in the Made of Athy series.

The event will take place in Athy on May 24 at St Michael’s Cemetery at 4pm.

Jane traces her roots back to Athy and still has family locally. Jane’s family, the Coyles, left Athy in the 1850s. Jane has been life-long peace activist. She will joined on the day by her husband, Bernie Sanders, the American politician and activist who has served as the US Senator from Vermont since 2007.

Known for his progressive and democratic socialist views, Sanders has been a leading voice on issues such as income inequality, universal healthcare, climate change, and workers' rights. He gained national prominence during his presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020, where he energised a large grassroots movement, particularly among younger voters.

Though he did not secure the Democratic nomination in either race, Sanders significantly influenced the party’s platform and pushed mainstream discourse to the left. Prior to his Senate career, he served as the mayor of Burlington and as a US Representative.

The Made of Athy plaque will celebrate the anti-war song ‘Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye’, a song that still resonates today, 200 years after it was written:

“You hadn't an arm, you hadn't a leg. You're a spineless, boneless, chickenless egg. You'll have to be put with the bowl to beg. johnny I hardly knew ya.” 

The song has been recorded by Bob Dylan, Janis Ian, The Clancy Brothers, the Drop Kick Murphys, even Maureen Ohara, and it has echoed through songs from The Cranberries, the Clash and PJ Harvey.

This project is supported by Kildare County Council and the Kildare Arts Office, the Bidens are guests of SIPTU and have helped organising this event.