SF adopting the Bertie Ahern ‘whatever you’re having yourself’ approach to policy?

There’s a lot of interesting response to the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, but one of the most intriguing was this from Liam Clarke… The snap survey of 50 members, conducted by the ‘Belfast Telegraph’, shows surprisingly sharp divisions on several key issues. On dissidents, a picture emerged that showed grassroots attitudes are not as strongly opposed to such republican terrorism as the party leadership. Party members were asked if an armed campaign was justified while British rule remained. Some 26pc …

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Final look back at Sinn Féin’s ard fheis

I’ve only been to the Sinn Féin ard fheis twice. Eighteen or so months ago the coffee area outside the main hall in Dublin’s RDS resounded with the voices from across the south of the island. But northern accents were scarce, and as a visitor it heightened the feeling of being an outsider and in a minority. This weekend, the situation was reversed. While the theme was ‘a new republic’ and ’32 county thinking’, the accents floating across the concourse …

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Day 2 in the New Republic house #ardfheis – updated with Adams’ closing speech

It’s a damp and overcast day in Belfast. The PSNI are cycling around the outside perimeter of the Waterfront Hall, while the Sinn Féin stewarding team patrol the other side of the fence. A lot of Friday’s delegates are bleary eyed. Stall holders are unpacking their merchandise. The media are crowded around the four audio connections that were wired up overnight in their upstairs annex. Downstairs in the hall, delegates have discussed transport, environment and infrastructure. They’re now into the …

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Some observations from the opening night of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis

Rev David Latimer addresses the Ard Fheis 2011

Metal barriers surround the Belfast’s Waterfront Hall this afternoon. A police landrover sits discreetly across the road. Yellow bibbed security teams thoroughly examine the bags of everyone arriving. Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are in the main hall rehearsing their conference speeches using the teleprompter. Earlier in the day, twenty five or so elected representatives and rising stars rehearsed their two minute speeches that will delivered during the “live” section on Saturday when BBC and RTE are broadcasting live from …

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