by John Coulter
SINN FEIN has increased the influence of key southern Irish representatives in what is being seen as the most significant shift in power within the republican movement since the Provisional IRA ceasefire in 1994. Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald is set to become Sinn Fein vice president at the party’s Ard Fhéis, or annual conference, next month.
This, together with the promotion of other southern activists, will bolster the party’s European campaign as well as a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty expected in October. Sinn Fein played a significant part in the “No” camp’s victory in the Republic last year.
Later this month Sinn Fein will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the formation of the First Dail Eireann in Dublin in 1919. The previous year the party won 73 of Ireland’s 105 seats at Westminster when the whole island was under British rule.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said: “For some time, and for very obvious reasons, Sinn Fein’s main political strength has been in the north and the border counties.
“For the last number of years there has been an ongoing project to make Sinn Fein fit for purpose everywhere on the island and to make republicanism relevant to people in their daily lives.
In my view, this has seen considerable progress.
“This is a long-term project. Sinn Fein as a party is in transition. A number of significant changes to the party structure and leadership are expected at this year’s Ard Fhéis.”
