Young Republican and Proud

In 2018 Fine Gael criticised Sinn Féin for selling ‘IRA themed’ merchandise. In 2020 Fine Gael felt it was appropriate to commemorate the Black and Tans and RIC, and during the election campaign crassly used worn out arguments of republican = bad to attack Sinn Féin. Then Dessie Ellis celebrating topping the poll in Dublin North West by singing Come out ye Black and Tans. This is Sinn Féin, a modern progressive party embedded in working class communities that is rightly proud of the history of Irish Republicanism.

This is not how the establishment views Sinn Fein however as journalists spent precious column inches accusing the Irish youth of voting for Sinn Féin simply because we don’t know our country's history, meaning that if only we had grown up at the same time as a generation who barred republicans from appearing on tv or the radio, and ignored British collusion with loyalists we would recognise that the troubles were 100% caused by a few angry men in West Belfast who for no reason started a military campaign against the British state and peace loving loyalist paramilitaries.

Unfortunately we are cursed with nuance, an understanding of loyalist violence, Britain's dirty war and an appreciation of the statesman like role of people like Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams who were seen as such by great leaders like Nelson Mandela.

As young southern republicans we are told we should be ashamed of our history, that Sinn Fein must renounce it’s past in order to be accepted into the ‘normal party’ club. This is an insult to all the republicans before us who rejected criminalisation during the war and fought hard to support the peace process. We as young republicans must reject continuing efforts to criminalise our past and rewrite history to suit the establishment, our recent growth is the result of this principled republicanism not despite it.

Everyday we campaign with the men and women who lived through the dark days when being a republican made you suspect in the eyes of the state. These men and women gave years of service to the cause with no expectation of any reward, and thanks to these men and women the vibrant political force that is Sinn Fein exists today.

Far from not being aware of our history young republicans are proud of the progressive role the republican movement has played in Irish history, from successfully challenging the orange state in the 6 counties to supporting campaigns against drug dealers in Dublin in the 1980s we are well aware that many of our elected representatives played a role in the conflict, as did countless of our comrades in cumainn across the country. 

As a party we continue to look to the future but must not forget our past, regardless of what the establishment media says, republicans should never be afraid to honour the memory of fallen volunteers. For myself and other young republicans the selfless sacrifice of men and women such as Bobby Sands, Mairead Farrell, Martin Doherty, Dermot Crowley, and many others is a source of inspiration not shame. 

We must continue to be proud of our history and the role of men like Martin McGuinness, if principled republicanism means we ‘are not a normal political party’ then we shouldn’t aim to be a normal party either.

‘Normal parties’ have administered austerity, used emigration as a safety valve for decades, restricted the rights of workers to go on strike almost entirely yet for some reason it is suggested continuously that both the history of the republican movement, and our democratic party structures such as the Ard Comhairle are things we should be ashamed of. That our commitment to our beliefs and our democratic structures are seen as negatives suggests that ‘normal politics’ is not something Sinn Féin should aspire to.

Last weekend was a massive breakthrough for Sinn Féin, politics in the 26 counties has changed utterly. In the words of Bobby Sands ‘we are standing on the threshold of another trembling world’ now is a time for us to remember the sacrifices of those who went before us. It is not time for Sinn Féin to become a ‘normal political party’ in order to please the establishment.

le Brendán Ó Conchúir