Sinn Féin (meaning “ourselves” in Gaelic) is an Irish political party operating in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Most of his actions involved fighting against the British presence, while seeking to promote Ireland’s economic, religious and geographical emancipation.
Sinn Féin was founded on November 28, 1905, at a time when Anglo-Irish tensions were at their height. Founded by Arthur Griffith, this political party was dedicated to the Anglo-Irish cause, with the aim of resisting the British presence.
During the Easter Rising of 1916, Sinn Féin participated fully in the revolt, supported by its official army: the IRA.
The Irish soon joined the party en masse, and Sinn Féin won many seats in the British Parliament. As a result of this new strength, in 1919 the party decided to found the Dàil Eireann, an Irish Assembly where nationalists would gather, with the aim of achieving Irish independence. After a bloody War of Independence, Dàil Eireann managed to negotiate a truce, followed by a Treaty in 1921.
Unfortunately, the treaty signed by Michael Collins and the British raised unprecedented disagreement, creating a split between pro-treaty and anti-treaty groups.
Then came the Civil War. At the end of 2 years of war (1922/1924), the pro-treaty side achieved victory, and celebrated the independence of the Irish Free State (cut off from Northern Ireland).
As in its early days, Sinn Féin is seeking to play an active role in the organization of this new state. Chaired by Eamon de Valera, the party lost its president when de Valera decided to resign and found his own party, Fianna Fáil.
The departure of their president plunged Sinn Féin into oblivion for several years. It wasn’t until 1969 that the situation in Northern Ireland worsened to such an extent that the IRA split into several entities, including the PIRA. Sinn Féin also took the same route, becoming 2 separate entities: Sinn Féin and Provisional Sinn Féin. This was followed by 30 years of “Troubles” in which Irish Catholics clashed relentlessly with British Protestants. Sinn Féin then tried to combine its political actions with those of the IRA.
It wasn’t until 1990 that Sinn Féinn decided to change strategy and opt for a more diplomatic policy. They gradually regained their seats in Parliament, and signed the Good Friday Agreement.
Over the years, Sinn Féin has made numerous attempts to calm the situation in Northern Ireland. Real progress was made, and in 2006 the DUP and Sinn Féin won the Northern Ireland Assembly elections. As a result, Gerry Adams, the party’s chairman, and Ian Paisley, the DUP’s Protestant British chairman, were urged by the British people to find common ground to share power between Catholics and Protestants.
Since then, Sinn Féin has been recognized as the largest party representing the Catholic community in Northern Ireland. Although less recognized in the Republic of Ireland, he is an emblematic figure of the Northern Irish struggle.
