Bigger and better than ever, Trade Union week 2026 saw Fórsa branches organise over 130 events across the country to celebrate the value of unions and worker solidarity. 

Branches organised coffee mornings, ice-cream vans, information stands, presentations, gigs, and more. Sharing ice-cream, coffee, and every variety of cake and pastry with fellow members to celebrate the occasion.  

The week ran from Monday 27 April to Friday 1st May, with events running daily, and culminated with the Dublin Council of Trade Unions annual May Day march in Dublin.  

Members talk A Better Deal at MTU Tralee.

This year, for branches covered by the public service pay agreement, the A Better Deal pledge was a key theme, with members taking the opportunity to explain the value of signing the pledge to their coworkers. This approach proved successful given the notable increase in pledge signings in workplaces which hosted events.

In addition to the serious business at hand, members also used Trade Union week to strengthen their bonds with social events. 

Cork Health and Local Government share coffee and pastries at Cork City Hall, with a visit from President Martin Walsh.

In Cork County Hall, the Cork Health & Local Government branch organised a raffle and a coffee van to provide coffee and pastries for members. 

Not only were they blessed with fine weather on the day, but they were also joined by some unexpected special guests. 

Branch secretary Cliadhna Dinneen said: “We wanted to give something back to our members, update them on the preparations for the upcoming pay talks, and give them the opportunity to meet their local Fórsa representatives and officials.” 

“Luckily, a separate event in City Hall that day meant that we also got to share this with some of our lovely SNA colleagues in the Education Division,” she continued. 

President Michael D and Sabina Higgins opened the May Day Film Festival Galway

In Galway, unions came together to host a film festival over the Mayday weekend. Billed as a “cinematic showing of worker strength” the festival was opened by former President Michael D. Higgins and Sabina Higgins.

Three days of films, talks and workshops about the labour movement took place at Nun's Island Theatre and in Áras na nGael. The films screened included We Only Want the Earth: the Life and Ideas of James Connolly (2025); Blood Fruit (2014),  and 9 to 5 (1980). Fórsa member Adam Stoneman explained that when the branch were trying to think of how best to celebrate Trade Union week, they decided to “do it in true Galway style – with a fleadh”.

Elsewhere in the country, the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown (DLR) branch annual Trade Union week event was well attended as always, with over 100 members joining both online and in person. 

Folk singer Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin shared a few tunes to open the proceedings. 

Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and his bosca ceoil at Dún Laoghaire Rathdown.

This year the event was themed around the Four Day Week, with Tash Wark, of the Australian Services Union, speaking on the Australian experience and Kevin Donoghue, Fórsa's Director of Campaigns, speaking about the benefits of the Four Day week more generally. 

Thomas Earls Fitzgerald, workplace rep for libraries in DLR, said: “The high attendance and level of interest today shows the keen interest in the Four Day Week.” 

Clare Health and Local Government make the best of the weather bringing ice-cream to Clare workplaces.

For members in Dublin for the day,  Fórsa held a screening of We Only Want the Earth: The Life & Ideas of James Connolly, in our Nerney’s Court Head Office. The event was well attended with members joining the May Day march directly afterwards. 

To wrap things up after the march, the ICTU Youth Committee and the DCTU organised a workers’ social in Cleary’s pub. The night was aimed at increasing youth participation in May Day and in unions more generally.  

With standing room only, the event was a roaring success, featuring performances from Jimi Cullen, members of the Bonny Ben, featuring Stefan Murphy, and headlined by local band Fizzy Orange.  

A big turn out for the Fórsa bloc at this year's May Day march.

Fórsa Youth committee member Bridget Moylan was part of the team who organised the event. She said: “It is really important that events such as May Day aren’t just for those who are already in a union but are also used as a way to attract new members.” 

“The gig was a huge success, and we had some great engagement from attendees who came for Fizzy Orange, but left understanding the importance of a union and for some even joining one!” she continued. 

Not content to rest on their laurels, both Bridget and the ICTU Youth Committee are already looking toward next year and a bigger, better May Day celebration. 

There was no holding back on the pastries at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht coffee morning.

For Fórsa’s director of campaigns, Kevin Donoghue, building on past successes is key to increasing the size and reach of Trade Union week year-on-year. 

He said, “Trade Union week has grown every year, since we started this three years ago. It really feels like we’re getting into the swing of things. You can see how branches, unions and ICTU are building on the experience gained in previous years, and everyone is starting to develop their own Trade Union week traditions.” 

“It’s not just about raising awareness of the value and work of trade unions; it’s also a chance to have a bit of fun and spread the joy of solidarity. More people see and hear about it every year, and then participation increases. It makes you excited for what new surprises next year holds,” he concluded. 

A full house at Coimisiún na Meán,

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