All Roads Lead to Athlone

Posted by Jim on September 27, 2024

A Letter From Ireland

a Chara,

In Celtic Ireland, it was said that all roads led to the Hill of Tara and the halls of the High King. This weekend all roads will lead to Athlone for the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis (annual convention).

The Ard Fheis draws delegates from all levels of the party to elect the Sinn Féin National Officer Board and Ard Chomhairle (National Leadership Council) and set party policy.

It is an open and democratic forum to debate policy and organizational priorities for the incoming leadership.

Over one thousand members will attend the two-day conference with hundreds of speakers and fringe events. The debates will be lively and votes will be taken.

It is a great way to renew old connections, grab a coffee, and catch up on the latest scéal (news). There is also serious business to be done.

In the past the Ard Fheis has made significant decisions; to take seats in the Dublin parliament, endorse the Good Friday Agreement, support policing in the North, and repeal of the 8th Amendment. All of these were passed after extensive discussions. The democratic process is essential to maintaining cohesion.

The Ard Fheis also elects the Sinn Féin leadership. The term of office is one year. Two stand-out conferences were the one at which Gerry Adams announced that he would be standing down and the one that elected Mary Lou McDonald Sinn Féin President.

Each Ard Fheis offers an opportunity for party renewal and the setting policy to meet the challenges of today.

I would anticipate that the main policy considerations will be housing, foreign policy, and Irish Unity.

At the end of August Eoin O’Brion TD, the Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson published extensive proposals to build homes to meet the current housing crisis. We are at the point where we are losing a generation to Australia and Canada. A point where nurses, teachers, and garda (police) cannot afford to rent or buy in our major cities. A generation of homeless families are growing up in emergency accommodation. These are challenges across the US and Canada.

The building of affordable homes for rent or purchase is key to unlocking the potential of the economy, stemming the tide of emigration, securing public services, and ending homelessness. Sinn Féin has the policies and people to make the difference.

With Russia continuing its occupation of Ukraine, the genocide in Gaza continuing, and war building in Lebanon, foreign policy will be debated. The cause of peace and justice must be heard above the roar of shelling.

Sinn Féin is an all-Ireland party. We will debate the essential steps forward to building a new and united Ireland. Central to this will be an Irish Government planning, preparing and advocating for unity, something that every Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government has failed to do for over one hundred years.

Sinn Féin in government in Dublin will lead the process of unity.

Have a great weekend, I know I will.

Is mise,

Ciarán

Ciarán Quinn is the Sinn Féin Representative to North America