Sinn Fein News, March 11, 2005
2005 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis
The 2005 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, in which the party celebrated its 100th year,
saw delegates reject recent attempts to criminalise the republican struggle
and commit themselves to ensuring the success of the peace process.
It was a party conference that saw republicans confidently setting their
sights outward rather than inward, focused on the goal of moving forward the
process and achieving a United Ireland.
Among the massive attendance over the three days, there was a remarkable
mixture of young and old, there was healthy debate and dissent as over 380
motions were decided on, and there was a palpable air of determination.
Referring to the Meath by-election this Friday and the forthcoming
Westminster and local elections in the North, Martin McGuinness told the Ard
Fheis that the way to ensure the success of the process is through increased
political strength, "so each and every republican has a mighty task ahead in
the coming months".
Gerry Adams emphasised that public support for the peace process would bring
"our opponents back to the process" but he said progress "demands more than
rhetoric from these other parties".
He best summed up the message when he assured delegates that Sinn Féin is up
to the task of rebuilding the peace process, that turning back is not an
option. "We're moving forward. We're moving forward to a better future," he
said.
Opening address buoys Ard Fheis delegates
The buzz of excitement in the Ard Fheis registration hall last Friday
evening was palpable. After months of listening to attacks on their party,
it was clear, as Sinn Féin members picked up their delegate badges and
visitor cards, that a weekend of positive messages and inspirational
speeches was more than welcome.
The opening address didn't begin on time. It couldn't; old friends were
still meeting each other in the canteen, exchanging greetings and news. As
the evening's chair beckoned people into the hall, the seats began filling
up. Chatter subsided as people took in this year's stage and watched as
press photographers jostled with each other for positions under the podium,
all aiming to get the best shots of the first speaker.
When Martin McGuinness took to the podium to make the opening speech of the
weekend, the applause from the hall was deafening.
The Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator smiled as he looked around the hall, and when
the applause died down, welcomed everybody to the 2005 Ard Fheis.
Then he got right to the point.
"The last few weeks have been very difficult," he said, adopting a more
sober demeanour. "Difficult for republicans and difficult for those we
represent — the republican communities who have supported and sustained the
republican struggle over the years."
"These communities know," he continued, "from first hand experience why the
struggle was necessary, and they know at first hand, the sacrifices that
have been necessary to get us to where we are today.
"For them, what is important is not the endless debate about whether Gerry
Adams and I were in the IRA. Or whether people believe us or Hugh Orde about
the Northern Bank robbery.
"No. What is important to them is whether they can believe in us — believe
in us when we say we are committed to true equality; believe in us when we
say that we are against criminality of all kinds; believe in us when we say
that our commitment to the Peace Process is total and absolute."
McCartney death
McGuinness said that what had pained him most about the last few weeks
hadn't been the criticism of the two governments, the party's political
opponents, the media or those unionists clearly delighted to have an excuse
for their intransigence.
"What pains me the most is any suggestion, suspicion or indication that the
IRA could be turned into a criminal gang or a tool of individual interest,
or otherwise engaged in criminality," he said.
Speaking slowly and clearly, he continued: "And in that context I am both
outraged and saddened at the involvement of a small number of IRA Volunteers
in the brutal killing of Robert McCartney in Belfast four weeks ago."
Reiterating the sentiments of the party over the last few weeks, McGuinness
said the McCartney killing was wrong and added: "We cannot allow
republicanism to be diminished in this way."
But he went onto praise the speedy response of the IRA to the events, saying
it was "in stark contrast to years and decades of cover up by the British
Government around collusion, shoot-to-kill, torture, Bloody Sunday, the
Dublin Monaghan bombings".
However, he said, there was a current crisis of confidence that could
destroy the Good Friday Agreement.
But, he pointed out, republicans "are determined to find a way, however
difficult and challenging, to put all conflict and violence behind us all
for good, to see all weapons put beyond use; to prevent criminality; to
participate in policing on the right terms; and to pursue a purely
political, peaceful and democratic path to the Irish unification that every
one of us wants to see".
He continued with this positive theme, speaking about this being the 100th
anniversary of the party.
"This year will be about delivering the republican message to every part of
the island and the purpose will be to encourage more and more people to take
possession of their own destiny in order to bring to a conclusion the
journey mapped out by those visionaries who founded Sinn Féin in 1905," he
said.
Referring to the party's recent launch of a discussion paper calling for a
Green Paper on Irish Unity, he said: "We have an historic opportunity for
broad civic and political society across this island to address the core
issue that has sustained conflict and division, discrimination and
second-class citizenship since partition."
He called on the Irish government not to squander this opportunity and to
act with foresight.
Challenges ahead
McGuinness went on to discuss the challenges facing the party this year.
"We have four elections pending," he said. "Immediately after this Ard Fheis
we are into the Meath by-election next Friday. Joe Reilly is our candidate
and we could not have a better or more able representative of republicanism.
I have no doubt that Joe will do us proud and set the pattern for strong
results in the Údarás na Gaeltachta elections in the South and the Local
Government and Westminster elections in the North."
Then, he said, the party had to face the mammoth and immediate task of
rebuilding the Peace Process.
"We are absolutely determined that the Peace Process will not fail," he said.
"The way in which to ensure its success is through increased political
strength, so each and every republican activist has a mighty task ahead in
the coming months. I know that you are up to it and I know that you will all
give it 100%."
Looking up from his notes, McGuinness concluded by speaking directly to the
party members sitting in front of him.
"It has been a difficult time. But we are all here and we're in good heart,"
he said, to thunderous applause.
And then, shouting above the crowd, he finished. "This is going to be the
biggest Ard Fheis the party has ever had and its message will be positive.
Go and enjoy the weekend, and let it be a productive one."
