Sinn Féin’s Rising Popularity Marks Significant Political Shift in Ireland
Ireland is experiencing a major political shift as Sinn Féin, a once-controversial party, is gaining significant popularity and poised to win the next general election. After the 2020 general election, Sinn Féin received the most first-preference votes and secured 37 seats, its best performance since 1923. This outcome represents a seismic realignment of the Irish political landscape.
Sinn Féin’s surge in popularity can be attributed to voters’ discontent with soaring prices, exorbitant rents, crumbling public services, and what is perceived as a lack of empathy from the government. In response to these issues, Sinn Féin won 24.5% of the first-preference vote, almost doubling its share from the previous election in 2016.
Following the election, Sinn Féin acknowledged that it could have achieved a landslide victory if it had fielded more candidates. Three years later, the state of the nation has worsened, intensifying calls for sweeping change from across the electorate. Given this backdrop, it is hardly surprising that Sinn Féin, once the most controversial party in Ireland, has emerged as a major player in Irish politics.
To understand the roots of Sinn Féin, we must delve into its history. The party was initially founded by Arthur Griffith in 1905 but experienced multiple splits, particularly during and after the Irish Civil War. It was these splits that gave rise to the two main political parties in Ireland today: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Sinn Féin faced another split in 1970 at the onset of the Troubles, a period of intense conflict in Northern Ireland. However, it was during this time that modern Sinn Féin emerged, striving to align itself with the party’s earliest iterations.
Throughout its history, Sinn Féin has faced criticism and condemnation from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael due to its connections with the Provisional IRA. However, it is essential to consider the reasons that compelled many young people to join the provos (the Provisional IRA) in the aftermath of tragic events like Bloody Sunday.
Fear, exclusion, racism, sectarian bigotry, and the constant threat of abduction and death were prevalent in areas such as South Armagh, East Tyrone, Ballymurphy, and West Belfast during those tumultuous years. The actions of paramilitary groups like the Shankhill Butchers and the Glenanne Gang further fueled the communities’ determination to protect themselves against the UDA, UVF, and renegade members of the UDR with alleged MI6 and British army collusions.
In this context, it becomes evident that revolutionary tactics often become a last resort for communities seeking to protect lives, secure personal liberties, and achieve political power. However, the emergence of Sinn Féin as a major political force can also be attributed to the toxic policies of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Thatcher’s divisive actions while in power profoundly affected Northern Ireland, solidifying the region’s bitter division. By allowing collusion between security services and unionist death squads, she perpetuated a cycle of violence. Thatcher also infamously allowed ten republican prisoners to starve themselves to death in 1981 rather than grant them political status.
Ironically, it was Thatcher’s policies and toxic reign that inadvertently played a part in Sinn Féin’s political reawakening. Gerry Adams, a key figure in the party, recognized that neither the British army nor the unionist death squads could ever defeat the ballot box. With years of struggle and lives lost, Sinn Féin emerged as a formidable political entity.
It is worth noting that times have changed, and many of today’s voters do not have first-hand recollections of the Troubles. The government’s cynicism and hypocrisy could prove to be its own downfall, as voter loyalty and traditional parish politics have faded into the past. Sinn Féin’s historic milestones have taken various shapes and forms, and the upcoming one appears to be unlike anything witnessed before.
In conclusion, Sinn Féin’s surging popularity symbolizes a significant political shift in Ireland. As the party gains momentum and support, it is essential for all sides to consider the complex historical context and the root causes that have led to its rise. With the next general election looming, the landscape of Irish politics is undoubtedly undergoing a profound transformation.
