NORTH BERGEN, NJ (April 2, 2025) In a letter sent this week to all International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Locals, International Executive Vice President Dennis A. Daggett revealed plans for the construction of a civic youth center in West Belfast, Ireland that will be named in honor of ILA President Harold J. Daggett.
“This center, named Croi na Carraige, (Gaelic for “Heart of the Rock”) will proudly bear the name of our International President Harold J. Daggett,” wrote ILA Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett. “And let me be clear: this is no vanity project. This is a living, breathing testament to what we, as trade unionist, stand for.”
Dennis Daggett detailed the well documented years of suffering of the residents of West Belfast, describing it as “a region that has endured decades of hardship, division and generational trauma.”
Relief to the area and its citizens can come about with the construction of this civic youth central.
“This center will provide a safe haven for children dealing with PTSC, offer services for youth with special needs, and become a beacon for education, cultural preservation, and community healing,” Dennis Daggett wrote. “It’s being built by Glór na Móna, a grassroots organization that embodies the very spirit of our movement-uplifting the working class through education, empowerment, and pride.”
The oldest son of ILA president, Dennis Daggett noted the people of West Belfast “saw in Harold J. Daggett and the ILA a union that never backs down, that stands with workers, and that always – always gives back.
“They chose to name this center in honor of our President not for some fleeting PR stunt, but because they believe in the values we’ve upheld for generations.”
Led by the ILA and its locals, Dennis Daggett said the fund-raising goal has been set at $600,000.00. Instructions and contact information on how to contribute will follow shortly.
“The ILA has never handed out checks to score points or get a headline,” Dennis Daggett wrote. “We give because it’s the right thing to do. We give because we remember where we came from. We give because someone once gave us a shot when we needed it most.”
Dennis Daggett also noted: “Your donation – whether large or small – will go directly toward giving these children a safe place to grow, learn, and thrive.”
