Clare Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

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Sean Hayes chairperson Clare Sinn Fein, Cathy Mccafferty Shannon town councillor, Paidraig Mac Lachlainn Donegal councillor

Sean Hayes chairperson Clare Sinn Fein, Cathy Mccafferty Shannon town councillor, Paidraig Mac Lachlainn Donegal councillor

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

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.

Tá aisling againn do thodhchaí na hÉireann

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.

Táimíd ag obair chun míchothramaíochtaí sóisialta agus eachnamaíochta a shárú.

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.