95th Ard-Fheis pledges renewed challenge to British rule

Ard-Fheis delegates gathered in Dublin on November 13.

Delegates gathered in Dublin for the 95th Ard-Fheis of Republican Sinn Féin on November 13-14 resolved to continue the struggle to end British rule in Ireland, regardless of the obstacles being placed in the path of Irish Republicanism.

Over 200 delegates met as the latest Stormont Deal was being finalised and renewed their commitment to the All-Ireland Republic proclaimed in 1916, established in 1919 and betrayed in 1922.

Their hope was kindled by the news that a Belfast office had been secured for the organisation on the Falls Road and would be open early in the New Year. The delegates pledged to pay off the debt on the Belfast and Dublin offices as soon as possible.

The Belfast premises would give a rallying point to the growing membership in the nine counties of Ulster and leave Republican Sinn Féin in a much stronger position to give leadership.

One small incident illustrated the upsurge in morale: one of the biggest rounds of applause was amazingly given to the RTÉ reporter who was saying to camera that "Speaker after speaker at this Ard-Fheis said that what Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were involved in was a sell-out".

There was an increased attendance at this year's Ard-Fheis and delegates expressed their satisfaction with the return to a Dublin city centre venue.

In the political policy debate on Saturday, November 13 Mary Ward, Comhairle Cúige Uladh, said that "A British withdrawal is the only thing people fought and died for. People do not fight for seats in a partitionist assembly, they fight for liberty."

Joe O'Neill and Geraldine Taylor, Ard Chomhairle, at the Ard-Fheis press conference on November 14.

Geraldine Taylor, Belfast Ard Chomhairle member, said that the Stormont Deal was "a sell-out of everything that people in this country went through over 30 years, those who gave their lives and spent time in prison".

A motion rejecting "any pacts or deals with any political organisation that recognises any of the Partition Statelets" was passed unanimously. Proposing the motion, Des Long, Vice-President, said "We are not dissidents -- it is the Provisionals who, with a contrived majority, dissented from the Republican Constitution and the fundamental Republican position of non-recognition of and abstention from partition assemblies. Let everyone know that to embrace British-imposed assemblies in Ireland is folly.

"There is one Republican Movement and I call on all Republican people to support it."

Another resolution passed described nationalists who took seats in the new Stormont as guilty of treachery.

The McKelvey/Steele Cumann, Belfast, successfully proposed a resolution rejecting "in its entirety" the Patten Report and called for the total disbandment and removal of all Crown Forces from Ireland.

The motion stated: "Any Provo house-keeping police force working at the behest of the British government should also be rejected; and we call on all members to the GAA and Congress to resist the abolition of Rule 21 and refuse to become recruiting sergeants for any British colonial police force in our country."

Ruairí Ó Brádaigh told the 200 delegates at the Ard-Fheis: "We are not going home, we are digging in, we are here for the long haul."

President Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said the pro-British media insisted on describing as Republican the Provisionals, who had abandoned Republicanism, while labelling those who continued to be opposed to British rule as 'dissidents'.

A successful motion from Comhairle Chúige Chonnacht called for the re-opening of the Sligo-Limerick railway line with a commuter service to Galway city. The Ard-Fheis also agreed another Connacht resolution opposing the Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) as "it would result in the creation of a National park for the west of Ireland".

Motions from Dublin, Belfast and the North-West called for members to become more involved in community-based initiatives, to tackle drug abuse, alcoholism, joyriding and other social problems.

Support was given to a call from Comhairle Chúige Laighean to give leadership on the establishment of housing co-ops and for local authorities to make more affordable homes for young people. Opposition to poor safety precautions on building sites and to landfill dumps in Leinster was passed.

On electoral strategy it was agreed that where possible every Comhairle Ceantair should contest local elections within their area. This would not apply in the Six Counties at present where the organisation is precluded by the political test oath introduced by the Tory government in 1989.

The debate on social and economic issues on Sunday dealt mostly with the inequalities of the so-called Celtic Tiger and opposition to 'partnership deals' that do not redress the growth of poverty and social exclusion.

An Ard Chomhairle motion called on the Trade Union Movement to unionise "as a matter of urgency" more than 5,000 foreign workers given work visas by Leinster House to ensure that they are not exploited by some Irish employers who insist on paying low wages. The immediate implementation of a 'liveable wage' for workers was successfully proposed by Geraldine McNamara on behalf of the Seán Treacy Cumann, Tipperary Town.

Delegates unanimously opposed 26-County membership of the NATO-led 'Partnership for Peace' as a further erosion of neutrality.

Another resolution was passed containing amendments to the ÉIRE NUA policy document which updated it in the light of the changed demographics. The Ard-Fheis approved a motion from the Patrick Cannon Cumann, Raheny, Dublin, supporting the survivors and relatives of the victims of the 1974 bombings in Dublin and Monaghan in their demand for a public inquiry. The resolution called for the release of all relevant files related to the bombings held by the Dublin Administration.

The Ard-Fheis sent solidarity greetings to Republican prisoners in Limerick, Portlaoise, Maghaberry and Hydebank jails and to all political prisoners who have stood by the All-Ireland Republic.

In the International section, a resolution was passed demanding that the fate of the 1,619 Cypriot men, women and children who disappeared following the invasion of their island be made known by the Turkish government.

The release of the leadership of the Basque independence organisation, Herri Batasuna, was welcomed "as a sign of the failure of State repression of political movements".

The call for the cancellation of all Third World debt as from January 1, 2000 was supported in a resolution from Roscommon Comhairle Ceantair.

Motions on education and culture were referred to the incoming Ard Chomhairle.

Peig King

Seán McGoldrick

Outgoing Ard-Rúnaí Peig King was thanked by the Ard-Fheis for her sterling work over the past year. Seán McGoldrick, Dublin, took the position of general secretary vacated by Peig King.

Representatives of Cumann na mBan and CABHAIR, Republican Prisoners Dependants Fund, addressed the Ard-Fheis over the weekend.
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National Draw Results 1999

1st Prize, £1,000, Olivia Mullooly, Strokestown, Co Roscommon
2nd Prize, £400, Maura Scully, New Jersey, USA
3rd Prize, £200, Maura Scully, New Jersey, USA
4th Prize, Framed Mirror, Colm Brolly, Dungiven, Co Derry
5th Prize, Bodhrán, Josephine Hayden, Political Prisoner, Limerick jail
6th Prize, Framed Batik, Niamh Long, Limerick
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Officer Board

The Officer Board elected for the coming year are: President, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh; Vice Presidents, Des Long and Cathleen Knowles McGuirk; General Secretaries, Líta Ní Chathmhaoil and Seán McGoldrick; National Treasurers, Joe O'Neill and John O'Connor; and Publicity Officer, Ruairí Óg Ó Brádaigh.
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Solidarity messages

George Harrison, Patron of Republican Sinn Féin sent a message of solidarity from New York to the assembled delegates.

He said it was "a tribute to your consistency that despite the stampede of Revisionism you and your leaders have stood your ground.

"British occupation is the problem now, as it always has been, and will be until such time as they go home, peacefully, one would hope, if not, bloodily. The choice is entirely theirs.

"I will always support your effort to complete the unfinished work of the heroes and martyrs of the centuries-old struggle against the empire of hell.

"When you succeed you will advance the cause of freedom for all the peoples of the world regardless of geography, race, colour or creed."

Messages of support were also received from Micheál Ó Lapáin on behalf of Dissenter Online News; the James Connolly Solidarity Committee, Quebec, Canada; EMGANN, the Breton liberation movement; Herri Batasuna, Basque country; Acolta Naziunali Corsa, Corsica and the Conseil National des Comités Populaires, Martinique.
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