Sinn Féin

The name Sinn Féin (pronounced {{IPA|}} in English, {{IPA|}} in Irish), which means "ourselves" or "we ourselves" (not as sometimes incorrectly translated, "ourselves alone" or "we alone") has been applied to a series of political movements since 1905 in Ireland, each of which claim or claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith in 1905.

Related Topics:
Pronounced - English - Irish - 1905 - Ireland - Arthur Griffith

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The largest of the modern-day Sinn Féin parties, also referred to as Provisional Sinn Féin, is the only political party to have seats in the parliaments of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. As a leading representative of the Republican wing of Irish nationalism, Sinn Féin advocates a United Ireland and avowedly leftist values, and is seen by many as the political wing of the Provisional IRA. It is currently the third-largest party in Ireland. This article principally deals with the history and current affairs of Provisional Sinn Féin.

Related Topics:
Provisional Sinn Féin - Northern Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Republican - Irish nationalism - United Ireland - Leftist - Provisional IRA

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The largest nationalist political party in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin recently displaced the previously dominant nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in national elections. It currently has 5 Northern Ireland (gaining one in the United Kingdom general election of 2005) MPs in the House of Commons (out of 18 Northern MPs) and 24 MLAs (out of a Northern Ireland Assembly membership of 108, making it the joint second largest, behind the Democratic Unionist Party with 33 seats and alongside the Ulster Unionist Party who also have 24). It is a much smaller political force in the Republic of Ireland, where it currently has 5 TDs (out of 166) in Dáil Éireann and no members of the Republic's Seanad Éireann (senate). Sinn Féin has two Members of the European Parliament (MEP) out of 16 Irish MEPs, one from either side of the Irish border; 1 out of 3 in Northern Ireland, and 1 out of 13 in the Republic. Its MEPs sit as part of the left wing European United Left - Nordic Green Left group in the European Parliament. When its voters on both sides of the border are counted, Sinn Féin is the third-largest party on the whole island (although the only time all of Ireland votes at the same time is during elections to the European Parliament).

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - Social Democratic and Labour Party - United Kingdom general election of 2005 - MPs - Northern Ireland Assembly - Democratic Unionist Party - Ulster Unionist Party - Republic of Ireland - TD - Dáil Éireann - Seanad Éireann - MEP - Left wing - European United Left - Nordic Green Left - European Parliament

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It had two ministers in the now suspended Executive Committee (cabinet) of the Northern Ireland Assembly. It has never sat in cabinet in the Republic. In 2005 the unionist parties, specifically the DUP, indicated that they would not serve in government with Sinn Féin until its relationship with paramilitary groups Provisional Irish Republican Army was terminated. This claim is often seen as hypocritical as the DUP has many links with loyalist paramilitary groups.

Related Topics:
Unionist - Provisional Irish Republican Army - Loyalist

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Sinn Féin is widely regarded as the political wing of the IRA; people holding this view often refer to the two together as 'Sinn Féin/IRA'. Though the goals of the Sinn Féin and the IRA are often similar, both groups maintain that they are entirely separate and independent from one other.

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Sinn Féin, and many people sharing their views towards a United Ireland, typically refer to Northern Ireland as the Six Counties, as the region is made up of the six counties which did not join the Irish Free State when it formed in 1922, choosing instead to remain part of the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - Irish Free State - United Kingdom

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