Richard Boyd Barrett

Richard Boyd Barrett is an Irish left-wing political activist. He is chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movementcite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20070526/ai_n19185367 |title=Cusack reunited with son she gave up for adoption |accessdate=2007-08-14 |last=Taafe |first=Danielle |date=2007-06-27 |publisher=The Independent ] and is frequently cited in the Irish media. [cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0622/bushvisit.html |title=Gardaí relax Dromoland protest restriction |accessdate=2007-08-14 |date=2004-06-22 |publisher=RTE quote=After a meeting between the Gardaí and representatives of the movement in Portlaoise this afternoon, spokesperson Richard Boyd Barrett said that while they were pleased the protest would be allowed to go so close to Dromoland Castle, they were disappointed that a request to continue the protest afterwards to Shannon Airport had been turned down by the Gardaí. ] [cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20070603/ai_n19201053 |title=HARNEY THE DEAL BREAKER |accessdate=2007-08-14 |last=Donald |first=Niall |date=2007-06-03 |format=article |publisher=Sunday Mirror |quote= Yesterday, Richard Boyd Barrett of the Irish Anti-War Movement called on Tony Gregory and Finian McGrath not to enter government with Fianna Fáil.

He said the independent TDs had pledged not to back a Government that allowed the US military use of Shannon Airport.

Mr Boyd Barrett added: "Anybody who signed the pledge on the issue of the use of Shannon by the US military I would expect should stick to their principles on the issue." ] [cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20070218/ai_n18641069 |title=JIM: LET U.S. TROOPS LAND IN DONEGAL |accessdate=2007-08-14 |last=Maguire |first=Steven |date=2007-02-18 |publisher=Sunday Mirror |quote=But Richard Boyd Barrett of the Irish Anti-War Movement said: "It is hugely immoral for anyone and especially a GP like Dr McDaid to tout for business on the back of 650,000 lives being lost." ] [cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20040620/ai_n12756988 |title=Agenda: This week's big issues |accessdate=2007-08-14 |date=2004-06-20 |publisher=The Independent on Sunday |quote="This administration represents everything that is wrong with the priorities of the world we live in," says Richard Boyd Barrett, chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement. "We want to be playing a part in driving George Bush out of power." ]

He is a member of the Socialist Workers Party, but contested the Dún Laoghaire constituency in the 2007 Irish general election for the People Before Profit Alliance. This identification was intended to broaden his support from non-socialist voters.cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20070708/ai_n19356194 |title=Socialist? Yes but not always |accessdate=2007-08-14 |date=2007-07-07 |format=article |work=Sunday Mirror ] In the run-up to the election he attracted support in Dun Laoghaire, following his participation in high-profile campaigns against highrise development, bin and water charges, privatisation of hospitals and support for the Rossport Five. Boyd Barrett lost narrowly to incumbent Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party, but intends to pursue political office in future local elections.

Adopted as a baby, his birth mother is actress Sinéad Cusack, with whom he was later reunited. This was revealed in the last week of his unsuccessful 2007 Dáil election campaign, during which Cusack, a vocal opponent of the Iraq War, canvassed for him.

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