Introduction

Sinn Féin is the oldest political movement in Ireland. It takes its name from the Irish Gaelic expression for ``We Ourselves''. Since being founded in 1905, Irish Republicans have worked for the right of Irish people as a whole to attain national self-determination.

The movement founded almost 100 years ago by Arthur Griffith evolved into a number of organisations which carried the name.

Provisional Sinn Féin

Specifically, it says:

• Sinn Féin is an Irish Republican party. Its objective is to end British rule in Ireland. It seeks national self-determination, the unity and independence of Ireland as a sovereign state.

• Sinn Féin is committed to the transformation of Irish society and to a negotiated and democratic settlement. It knows that peace is not simply the absence of violence. Real peace - a lasting peace - is based on democracy, justice, freedom and equality.

• Sinn Féin has a vision that sees beyond the present conflict and beyond the present phase of Irish history. The party's vision foresees the unity of the people of this island. It is a vision for the redistribution of wealth, for the well-being of the aged, for the advancement of youth, for the liberation of women and for the protection of Irish children. It is a vision for a free Ireland and a free people.

• Sinn Féin is committed to its peace strategy. It has sought with honesty and integrity to construct a peace process which reaches out and embraces everyone on the island on the basis of equality. Its objective must be for an agreement that will earn the allegiance and respect of all sections of the Irish people.

To achieve these objectives, Sinn Féin backs the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which the party reached with the other northern parties and the Irish and British governments following multi-party negotiations in Belfast. These negotiations arose from the Irish Peace Process, itself initiated in discussions begun several years ago.

Sinn Féin's peace strategy was supported by the end of the armed campaign by the Provisional Irish Republican Army and was endorsed again by the decisions taken at the party's annual Ard Fheiseanna [annual conferences].

Through its leadership, the Ard Chomhairle, Sinn Féin says it maintains its goal of a just and lasting peace as part of its agenda for change.

In the Six Counties, Sinn Féin is the leading nationalist party. It has four Westminster MPs, 28 MLAs, and 105 councillors. In the 26 Counties, the party currently has 14 TDs and 158 councillors.

Gerry Adams MP	M. McGuinness MP	Pat Doherty MP	Conor Murphy MP

C. Ó Caoláin TD	Martin Ferris TD	A. Ó Snodaigh TD	Pearse Doherty TD

“Everyone, Republican or otherwise has their own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small, no one is too old or too young to do something.”

Bobby Sands (1954-1981), on hunger strike in 1981

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