Introduction to Sinn Féin

[Sinn Fein]

What is Sinn Féin?

Sinn Féin is the fastest-growing political party in Ireland.

It is a republican and labour party, taking its inspiration from the politics of Wolfe Tone, James Connolly and the 1916 Easter Rising.

Sinn Féin, the only all-Ireland party, is committed to achieving a 32-County democratic socialist republic and the end of British rule in Ireland.

Sinn Féin is nationalist and internationalist. It is anti-imperialist, anti-fascist and anti-racist.

Sinn Féin, a fresh alternative to the stale politics, corruption and mismanagement of the Establishment parties, is committed to achieving real change in Irish society. Sinn Féin is working to bring about an end to the sectarian Six-County state.

Organised throughout the 32 Counties, it is a radical, campaigning, activist party. It is dedicated to achieving a society free from prejudice and discrimination, and providing justice and equal opportunity for all in an independent Ireland.

Sinn Féin is working hard to achieve the implementation of its progressive policies on:

National Independence

* Irish unity and independence
* Peace process
* Implement the Good Friday Agreement
* Equality and Justice

The Economy

* Republican labour
* Sharing the wealth
* Workers' Rights and Industrial Relations
* Rural Development
* Agriculture
* Fisheries

Social Policy

* Housing
* Health and Social Services
* Drugs
* Education and Culture
* Environment
* Women
* Discrimination
* Youth Rights

International Affairs

* Neutrality
* European Union and World Trade

Sinn Féin has a well-earned reputation for hard work, honesty and integrity.

If you want to make a lasting and worthwhile contribution to building a better future for all, then Sinn Féin is the party for you.

Irish Republicanism

Modern Irish republicans trace their political origins to the movement of the United Irishmen of the 1790s. The United Irishmen took their inspiration from the French Revolution and fought to break the political connection between Ireland and Britain, believing that only an independent Ireland could guarantee equality and prosperity for the Irish people. Most of the leading figures of the United Irishmen were Presbyterians and a key part of their programme was unity between Irish people of all religions and none in the cause of liberty. Their rebellion in 1798 was ruthlessly suppressed but their ideas continue to inspire Irish nationalists and republicans today.

The name Sinn Féin ("We Ourselves") first emerged in the early 1900s as a federation of nationalist clubs.

The Sinn Féin party, inspired by the Proclamation in 1916, reorganised in 1917 based on the demand for an Irish republic. It won the 1918 general election with an overwhelming majority and established Dáil Éireann ("Assembly of Ireland"). Following three years of guerrilla war, led by the underground republican government, the party split in 1922 on the issue of the Treaty which partitioned Ireland.

Throughout the 1920s, following a devastating Civil War, Sinn Féin continued as the republican party. Its fortunes ebbed and flowed in the late 1950s and the early 1960s with the IRA's Border Campaign, during which Sinn Féin enjoyed significant electoral success.

In the 1960s, Sinn Féin adopted a more radical stance on social and economic affairs. But differing approaches to the Civil Rights Movement and to the outbreak of the present conflict in the Six Counties led to another split. One section of Sinn Féin was in the process of abandoning the republican demand for British withdrawal from Ireland and went through various transformations such as the Workers' Party and Democratic Left before eventually merging with the 26-County Labour Party.

Sinn Féin was to evolve through the next three decades into the party we know today. Sinn Féin has been to the forefront of the resistance of the nationalist people in the Six Counties as they saw their peaceful demand for civil rights met with repressive laws and state violence.

It was in the early 1980s that Sinn Féin really began to make an impact as a serious political force.

The re-evaluation of Sinn Féin strategy and reorganisation resulting from the mass campaigns for the republican prisoners in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh and Armagh Jail before and during the 1981 Hunger Strike (when ten prisoners died) set Sinn Féin on its present-day course.

How is Sinn Féin organised?

Sinn Féin is organised throughout the 32 Counties of Ireland. Anyone who lives in Ireland and is aged 16 or over can apply to be a member of the party. The Sinn Féin structure is:-

Cumann (Local or Workplace Branch)

The cumann is the most important part of Sinn Féin because it is the most visible and active republican presence in any community.

A cumann must consist of no fewer than five people and a recommended maximum of 20. It can be organised in a workplace, college, university, village, town or city.

Members of a cumann elect delegates to the comhairle ceantair, the cúige, and the party's annual Ard Fheis (National Delegate Conference).

Cumann members carry out a regular programme of activity on a wide range of social, economic and political issues.

The core aims of Sinn Féin cumainn are to mobilise and help empower communities and build popular support for the party by articulating and implementing republican policies.

Comhairle Ceantair (District Executive)
The Comhairle Ceantair is based on county electoral areas and provides a resource as well as direction to all cumainn in its area. The Comhairle Ceantair oversees party organisation, fund-raising and local election campaigns and initiatives.

Cúige (Regional Executive)
Sinn Féin cúigi are based on the five European Union electoral constituencies in Ireland - Dublin, Leinster, Munster, Connacht/Ulster, the Six Counties. It organises, publicises, develops and co-ordinates Sinn Féin activities in its region.

It is made up of an officer board elected from among the delegates nominated by the region's comhairli ceantair and cumainn.

Coiste Seasta (Standing Committee)

The Coiste Seasta meets every week to ten days to oversee the day-to-day running of Sinn Féin.

It is an eight-member body nominated by the Ard Chomhairle and also includes the chairperson of each cúige.

Ard Chomhairle (National Executive)

The Ard Chomhairle meets at least once a month. It directs the overall implementation of Sinn Féin policy and activities of the party. The Ard Chomhairle also oversees the operation of various departments of Sinn Féin:-

•Administration

•Finance

•National Organiser

•Campaigns

•Ógra Shinn Féin

•Women's Forum

•Culture

•Publicity

•International Affairs

It is made up of the following: Officer Board and nine other members, all of whom are elected by delegates to the Ard Fheis, 15 representing the five Cúige regions (three delegates each). The Ard Chomhairle can co-opt eight members for specific posts and additional members can be co-opted, if necessary, to ensure that at least 30 per cent of Ard Chomhairle members are women.

Ard Fheis (National Delegate Conference)

The Ard Fheis is the ultimate policy-making body of Sinn Féin where delegates — directly elected by members of cumainn — can decide on and implement policy. It is held at least once a year but a special Ard Fheis can be called by the Ard Chomhairle or the membership under special circumstances.

[belfastcentral]

What is Sinn Féin?

Sinn Féin is the fastest-growing political party in Ireland.

It is a republican and labour party, taking its inspiration from the politics of Wolfe Tone, James Connolly and the 1916 Easter Rising.

Sinn Féin, the only all-Ireland party, is committed to achieving a 32-County democratic socialist republic and the end of British rule in Ireland.

Sinn Féin is nationalist and internationalist. It is anti-imperialist, anti-fascist and anti-racist.

Sinn Féin, a fresh alternative to the stale politics, corruption and mismanagement of the Establishment parties, is committed to achieving real change in Irish society. Sinn Féin is working to bring about an end to the sectarian Six-County state.

Organised throughout the 32 Counties, it is a radical, campaigning, activist party. It is dedicated to achieving a society free from prejudice and discrimination, and providing justice and equal opportunity for all in an independent Ireland.

Sinn Féin is working hard to achieve the implementation of its progressive policies on:

National Independence

* Irish unity and independence
* Peace process
* Implement the Good Friday Agreement
* Equality and Justice

The Economy

* Republican labour
* Sharing the wealth
* Workers' Rights and Industrial Relations
* Rural Development
* Agriculture
* Fisheries

Social Policy

* Housing
* Health and Social Services
* Drugs
* Education and Culture
* Environment
* Women
* Discrimination
* Youth Rights

International Affairs

* Neutrality
* European Union and World Trade

Sinn Féin has a well-earned reputation for hard work, honesty and integrity.

If you want to make a lasting and worthwhile contribution to building a better future for all, then Sinn Féin is the party for you.

Irish Republicanism

Modern Irish republicans trace their political origins to the movement of the United Irishmen of the 1790s. The United Irishmen took their inspiration from the French Revolution and fought to break the political connection between Ireland and Britain, believing that only an independent Ireland could guarantee equality and prosperity for the Irish people. Most of the leading figures of the United Irishmen were Presbyterians and a key part of their programme was unity between Irish people of all religions and none in the cause of liberty. Their rebellion in 1798 was ruthlessly suppressed but their ideas continue to inspire Irish nationalists and republicans today.

The name Sinn Féin ("We Ourselves") first emerged in the early 1900s as a federation of nationalist clubs.

The Sinn Féin party, inspired by the Proclamation in 1916, reorganised in 1917 based on the demand for an Irish republic. It won the 1918 general election with an overwhelming majority and established Dáil Éireann ("Assembly of Ireland"). Following three years of guerrilla war, led by the underground republican government, the party split in 1922 on the issue of the Treaty which partitioned Ireland.

Throughout the 1920s, following a devastating Civil War, Sinn Féin continued as the republican party. Its fortunes ebbed and flowed in the late 1950s and the early 1960s with the IRA's Border Campaign, during which Sinn Féin enjoyed significant electoral success.

In the 1960s, Sinn Féin adopted a more radical stance on social and economic affairs. But differing approaches to the Civil Rights Movement and to the outbreak of the present conflict in the Six Counties led to another split. One section of Sinn Féin was in the process of abandoning the republican demand for British withdrawal from Ireland and went through various transformations such as the Workers' Party and Democratic Left before eventually merging with the 26-County Labour Party.

Sinn Féin was to evolve through the next three decades into the party we know today. Sinn Féin has been to the forefront of the resistance of the nationalist people in the Six Counties as they saw their peaceful demand for civil rights met with repressive laws and state violence.

It was in the early 1980s that Sinn Féin really began to make an impact as a serious political force.

The re-evaluation of Sinn Féin strategy and reorganisation resulting from the mass campaigns for the republican prisoners in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh and Armagh Jail before and during the 1981 Hunger Strike (when ten prisoners died) set Sinn Féin on its present-day course.

How is Sinn Féin organised?

Sinn Féin is organised throughout the 32 Counties of Ireland. Anyone who lives in Ireland and is aged 16 or over can apply to be a member of the party. The Sinn Féin structure is:-

Cumann (Local or Workplace Branch)

The cumann is the most important part of Sinn Féin because it is the most visible and active republican presence in any community.

A cumann must consist of no fewer than five people and a recommended maximum of 20. It can be organised in a workplace, college, university, village, town or city.

Members of a cumann elect delegates to the comhairle ceantair, the cúige, and the party's annual Ard Fheis (National Delegate Conference).

Cumann members carry out a regular programme of activity on a wide range of social, economic and political issues.

The core aims of Sinn Féin cumainn are to mobilise and help empower communities and build popular support for the party by articulating and implementing republican policies.

Comhairle Ceantair (District Executive)
The Comhairle Ceantair is based on county electoral areas and provides a resource as well as direction to all cumainn in its area. The Comhairle Ceantair oversees party organisation, fund-raising and local election campaigns and initiatives.

Cúige (Regional Executive)
Sinn Féin cúigi are based on the five European Union electoral constituencies in Ireland - Dublin, Leinster, Munster, Connacht/Ulster, the Six Counties. It organises, publicises, develops and co-ordinates Sinn Féin activities in its region.

It is made up of an officer board elected from among the delegates nominated by the region's comhairli ceantair and cumainn.

Coiste Seasta (Standing Committee)

The Coiste Seasta meets every week to ten days to oversee the day-to-day running of Sinn Féin.

It is an eight-member body nominated by the Ard Chomhairle and also includes the chairperson of each cúige.

Ard Chomhairle (National Executive)

The Ard Chomhairle meets at least once a month. It directs the overall implementation of Sinn Féin policy and activities of the party. The Ard Chomhairle also oversees the operation of various departments of Sinn Féin:-

•Administration

•Finance

•National Organiser

•Campaigns

•Ógra Shinn Féin

•Women's Forum

•Culture

•Publicity

•International Affairs

It is made up of the following: Officer Board and nine other members, all of whom are elected by delegates to the Ard Fheis, 15 representing the five Cúige regions (three delegates each). The Ard Chomhairle can co-opt eight members for specific posts and additional members can be co-opted, if necessary, to ensure that at least 30 per cent of Ard Chomhairle members are women.

Ard Fheis (National Delegate Conference)

The Ard Fheis is the ultimate policy-making body of Sinn Féin where delegates — directly elected by members of cumainn — can decide on and implement policy. It is held at least once a year but a special Ard Fheis can be called by the Ard Chomhairle or the membership under special circumstances.

Would someone clarify this statement,

"Sinn Féin, the only all-Ireland party, is committed to achieving a 32-County democratic socialist republic and the end of British rule in Ireland.
"

RSF is also an all Ireland party commited to achieving a 32-County democratic socialist republic and the end of British rule in Ireland.

Inthis section ,

"It was in the early 1980s that Sinn Féin really began to make an impact as a serious political force."

It does not mention how just a few years after the hunger strikers died that Sinn Fein decied to recognise the occupation government and work towards joining the british and free state system because they thought that they were a serious political force that could make change from with in side those structures.

[Calv]

RSF is also an all Ireland party commited to achieving a 32-County democratic socialist republic and the end of British rule in Ireland.

last time i checked RSF wanted a federal republic :hmmm:

[belfastcentral]

federal is also a democratic system have you any reason why the post 1980s history is left out of the document.

[Cael]

Trouble is, the british constitutional reform party this forum refers to is not Sinn Féin. Its misleadership expelled themselves from Sinn Féin in 1986.

Why british Crown Ministers would have their party included on a supposedly Republican board is quite beyond me. Why not include Fianna Fáil, none of them are Crown Ministers or Officials, or take their wages from the English Crown.

[belfastcentral]

I was sort of wondering when it starts of with the history of Sinn Fein , throughout the years it talks of the split in 60's and then goes to 1980 but then tells you nothing of other significant split that went beyond the the treaty and free state moves made by the earlier groups that called themselves Sinn Fein. Irish men actully moving to work the occupation government on behalf of the british and for the irish natives.

[Calv]

federal is also a democratic system have you any reason why the post 1980s history is left out of the document.

maybe becuase it's just an introduction to Sinn Fein, not the history of them.

[MarkyMark]

i believe SF claim to be the only "all Ireland party because they have elected representation in both the north and south. unlike the Greens, RSF, 32CSM, IRSP, Workers Party, Irish National Party, CSP, and Labour (all of whom are technically all Ireland parties but all of whom have either no representation or just representation in either the north or south)

[Mellows1922]

RSF is also an all Ireland party commited to achieving a 32-County democratic socialist republic and the end of British rule in Ireland..

Not so according to Cael, he maintains RSF are a Republican organisation not a political party.

He never did explain if he felt those in the Mansion House in 1919 were members of a political party - I know they believed they were, but Cael seems to think they were not.

Apart from that, is it not possible to start a thread if there are sections of the above you'd like to discuss otherwise it's going to get awful bogged down awful quick in this thread. It'll just get impossible to follow.

[Cael]

I was sort of wondering when it starts of with the history of Sinn Fein , throughout the years it talks of the split in 60's and then goes to 1980 but then tells you nothing of other significant split that went beyond the the treaty and free state moves made by the earlier groups that called themselves Sinn Fein. Irish men actully moving to work the occupation government on behalf of the british and for the irish natives.

Yes, but as the owner of this site is an Adamsite, the Crown Ministers Party gets to (ab)use the name Sinn Fein(sic), at least he had the decency not to put in the fada, what "fein" means is anyones guess. A meaningless name for a meaningless party I guess.

[Mellows1922]

Yes, but as the owner of this site is an Adamsite, the Crown Ministers Party gets to (ab)use the name Sinn Fein(sic), at least he had the decency not to put in the fada, what "fein" means is anyones guess. A meaningless name for a meaningless party I guess.

Well Cael, there is a section devoted to the organisation you support, why not utilise it to convince people the true worth of that organisation, use it to push your position ?

Would that not serve your cause more than giving yourself a hernia moaning about us Shinners for the millionth time ?

[MarkyMark]

Please explain how Daithi is abusing the name "Sinn Fein"? (i realise i havent use fadas but im using a tea soaked keyboard :))

[Mellows1922]

Please explain how Daithi is abusing the name "Sinn Fein"? (i realise i havent use fadas but im using a tea soaked keyboard :))

Ah jaysis, don't get him started.

[belfastcentral]

threads sort swaying a bit from the point raised about the document, is this a ginuwine forgot to leave out or is the ones on top writing history, trying to airbrush this important development in Sinn Feins history.

it would be nice to read an analysis of that time from Sinn Fein is there abd resources articles , papers by Sinn Fein about this eventful time

[Cael]

Well Cael, there is a section devoted to the organisation you support, why not utilise it to convince people the true worth of that organisation, use it to push your position ?

Would that not serve your cause more than giving yourself a hernia moaning about us Shinners for the millionth time ?

The point is, you're NOT Shinners at all, but the followers of hired English Crown Officials.

[Mellows1922]

threads sort swaying a bit from the point raised about the document, is this a ginuwine forgot to leave out or is the ones on top writing history, trying to airbrush this important development in Sinn Feins history.

Yeah that's what I meant about maybe locking the topic so if people want to discuss specific sections they can bring it to the board, otherwise it's just going to go all over the shop.

In answer to your question, it's hard to fit 100 years of history into one page.

[belfastcentral]

he has sort of got a point , slagging the shinners takes away from discussion of the document

How can you be so pro -Irish but yet everyday work at keeping the place under occupation.

Any good reading sources around this decision to split with Sinn Fein,

[Mellows1922]

How can you be so pro -Irish but yet everyday work at keeping the place under occupation.

See if you want to discuss this start a thread about it, I've debatd it at length, no problem doing it again, it's just going to get lost in here.

Any good reading sources around this decision to split with Sinn Fein,

I think you'd need to go to RSF for that, it was far more significant to those who huffed out, to those of us who stayed we just continued the fight uninterrupted.

[Cael]

Yeah that's what I meant about maybe locking the topic so if people want to discuss specific sections they can bring it to the board, otherwise it's just going to go all over the shop.

In answer to your question, it's hard to fit 100 years of history into one page.


Your history began in 1986, when you were expelled from Sinn Féin.

[Cael]

he has sort of got a point , slagging the shinners takes away from discussion of the document

How can you be so pro -Irish but yet everyday work at keeping the place under occupation.

Any good reading sources around this decision to split with Sinn Fein,



The story of how Gerry Adams tried to turn an eighty year old revolutionary movement into a British Constitutional party. How he broke the Sinn Féin constitution, created fake cumainn to give him fake votes and barred life long republicans from voting. How he managed to expel himself and his supporters from Sinn Féin membership. And, how a small band of republicans managed to keep the Sinn Féin constitution and traditional policy in tact.

In 1986 Section 1b. of the Sinn Féin constitution read as follows:

“No person who is a member of any political party organisation or who approves of or supports the candidature of persons who, if elected, intend taking part in the proceedings of the Westminster or partitionist 26-County or 6-County parliaments or who approves of or supports the candidature of persons who sign any form or give any kind of written or verbal undertaking of intention to take their seats in these institutions, shall be admitted to membership or allowed to retain membership."

The Adams leadership put forward a motion, titled Resolution 162, at the 1986 Ard Fheis. Its wording was as follows:

RESOLUTION 162

THAT this Ard-Fheis drops its abstentionist attitude to Leinster House. Successful Sinn Fein parliamentary candidates in 26-County elections:

a. Shall attend Leinster House as directed by the Ard Chomhairle.

b. Shall not draw their salaries for personal use. (Parliamentary representatives shall be paid a Sinn Fein organiser’s subsidy, and the Leinster House salary shall be divided at the direction of the Ard Chomhairle to defray national and constituency expenses.)

To accommodate this change, the Constitution and Rules be amended as follows:

That Section 1b of the Constitution be amended to read:

No person who is a member of any political party organisation or who approves of or supports the candidature of persons who, if elected, intend taking part in the proceedings of the Westminster or partitionist 6-County parliaments or who approves of or supports the candidature of persons who sign any form or give any kind of written or verbal undertaking of intention to take their seats in these institutions, shall be admitted to membership or allowed to retain membership.

Motion 162 supports and approves of the candidature of persons who, if elected, would be of the intention to take their seats in certain circumstances i.e. on the direction of the Ard Chomhairle. Obviously, Motion 162 infringes Section 1b. Section 1b. was in effect at the time this Resolution was presented. Its clear that Adams made a mistake in procedure. He should have sought a majority decision to amend Section 1b. in 1986 and returned in 1987 to propose entering Leinster House. Trying to amend Section 1b. and propose taking seats in the “partitionist 26-County Parliament” in the same Resolution was a logical impossibility.

Can anybody say that the wording:

“That this Ard-Fheis drops its abstentionist attitude to Leinster House. Successful Sinn Fein parliamentary candidates in 26-County elections:

a. Shall attend Leinster House as directed by the Ard Chomhairle”

does not constitute the supporting and approving of the candidature of persons who intend to take their seats in Leinster House as directed by the Ard Chomhairle?
Clearly Adams was in breach of Section 1b. and according to that section he had expelled himself, and all those who voted for Resolution 162.

Brian Feeney, in his book, Sinn Féin 100 Turbulent Years, puts forward the argument that Adams had managed to bypass Section 1b, by introducing a motion in 1983 allowing the “discussion” of any aspect of the Sinn Féin constitution. This change may indeed have facilitated debate on abstentionism but it did not infringe on the content or effect of Section 1b in any way. To discuss something is not the same as formally proposing or supporting it. For example, conventions are held regularly where drug addiction is discussed without any of the delegates proposing or supporting it. In fact the line Adams added in 1983 was superfluous, as the Sinn Féin constitution had never banned the “discussion” of anything – just the “approving” and “supporting” of taking seats in named partitionist parliaments.

Of course it was not illegal to amend or remove section 1b. Section 1b. banned the approval or support of candidates who intend to take seats in British assemblies. It could have been removed or amended at any Ard Fheis by a two thirds majority. The reason for doing so could be many. Perhaps delegates might feel that it implies that they cannot be trusted to be loyal to the Republic. In fact its not necessary, according to the constitution, to give any reason. But you cant amend or remove section 1b. in the same resolution as you support and approve of entering Leinster House, as Resolution 162 tried to do. Once section 1b. has been removed, then, at the next Ard Fheis its possible to propose entering any assembly you want.

So it would have taken a minimum of two years, two Ard Fheiseanna. Year one amend or delete Section 1b. then year two you can propose to enter any assembly you want. Adams tried to amend section 1b. and propose entering Leinster House in the same Resolution 162.

Of course Adams had good reason not to want the process to take two years – giving people too much time to think of the implications would not have suited his cause.

Another point at which Adams broke the constitution was that the constitution states that all cumainn must recieve three months notice of a motion addressing a policy change at an Ard Fheis. Cumainn were told of Resolution 162 in early October - the Ard Fheis began on October 31th.

The breaking of rules didn’t end here. In one famous case, the University College Dublin cumann, the rules were completely ignored. The rule stated that a member had to be a member for at least three months before they were allowed to take part in decisions. In UCD an "observer" from Belfast insisted that three new members who had only been in the cumann for a couple of weeks be allowed to vote. This visitor implied that he was acting with the authority of PIRA and that anyone who voted against supporting Resolution 162 would be voting against PIRA. Naturally, the vote was carried. It also could be noted that life long members like Seán Keenan, who had been voted honorary life long president of Derry Sinn Féin, was turned away at the door of the Ard Fheis because it was know that he rejected Resolution 162. Tony Ruane, an honorary vice president for life, who had been Sinn Féin national treasurer for decades, was also refused entry for the same reason.

However breaking the rules of the constitution alone would not have secured victory for Adams in 1986.

Its interesting to look at the attempt of Adams and co. to weaken abstensionism at the 1985 Ard Fheis. Comhairle Limistéir Bhaile Átha Cliath put forward a motion proposing that abstensionism “be viewed as a tactic and not as a principle.” Adams supporters Danny Morrison, Tom Hartley and Seán Crowe were the main speakers in favour. The motion was rejected by 181 votes against to 161 in favour. That means that there were 342 delegates representing 171 cumainn. This was a serious setback for Adams. To drop absentionism on these numbers he would need to change the vote of 60 delegates. That would have taken years if he had played by the rules. So what did Adams do? Besides intimidation of existing cumainn, merging of hostile cumainn and just plain refusing to let hostile voices into the Ard Fheis? Well, he just created over a hundred new, fake, paper cumainn. If we look at the figures of the vote in 1986 on Resolution 162: 429 in favour and 161 against. That means a total number of 590. What? There were now 295 cumainn. 124 new cumainn??? In the space of a year? And they all supported Resolution 162? And even stranger these 124 new cumainn just disappeared in 1987, because at the 1987 PSF Ard Fheis the numbers were back to about 340 delegates.

Given the above, its obvious that many comentators operate on the false premise that a legal and democratic vote was held on Resolution 162 and that the losers of that vote went on to form a “splinter” group known as Republican Sinn Féin. It would be more accurate to describe RSF as the “remainder” of the Sinn Féin party after an unscrupulous leadership subverted the party’s constitution for their own ends. A group of members who had not broken the contitution by supporting Resolution 162 walked out of the Mansion House. They reconvened the 1986 Ard Fheis at the West County Hotel in Chapelizod, west county Dublin, with the constitution still intact. The traditional Sinn Féin policy of giving its allegiance to the 32 county Republic, and refusing to recognise all British created assemblies continues. At that, reconvened, Ard fheis the word “Poblachtach” was added to Sinn Féin's name to emphasise the republican beliefs of the organisation as opposed to the new party of self expelled ex Sinn Féin members which Adams led into the British Monarchist Constitution.

[MarkyMark]

ok im gonna lock this thread now. if you guys want to debate please create a seperate thread

Cael feel free to start another post with your previous comment
thanks :)