A century of splits and the 'passing on of authority' : How does the modern Sinn Féin trace its roots back to the civil war? Historian Brian Hanley discusses GE2020
Brian Hanley It’s been a week where the three main parties in this country – Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and now Sinn Féin – were left reeling and trying to come to terms with the new political reality following a seismic election.
So, at such a critical juncture in Irish political life, we asked historian Brian Hanley to trace back through the history of the Sinn Féin party: In general elections of June 1922 pro-Treaty Sinn Féin led by Michael Collins won 58 seats while those who opposed the Treaty, led by Eamon de Valera, took 36 .
In 1926 de Valera formed Fianna Fáil, taking Aiken and other senior figures, such as Countess Markievicz and Seán Lemass with him. Sinn Féin, in contrast, was reduced to a purist rump refusing to engage in day-to-day politics, while the IRA embraced left-wing activism. As the IRA became more isolated it decided to concentrate on a military campaign against partition. To secure the necessary legitimacy to ‘declare war’ on Britain, during 1938 it sought out seven former Sinn Féin TDs who maintained allegiance to the Second Dáil, who in turn passed on their governmental ‘authority’ to the IRA. .
Related Reads 09.02.20 Exit poll shows support for Irish unity referendum, especially among 18-24 age group 09.02.20 The nation has decided. Here's when we'll know the results In real terms, the party was both a support organisation and vehicle for publicity for the IRA. Sinn Féin members were banned from RTE, the party widely regarded as ‘subversive’ and members suffered deadly attacks in Northern Ireland itself .Though it had held a few council seats across the Republic, it was not until after the H-Block hunger strikes in 1981 that Sinn Féin emerged as a real political force.
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