Sinn Féin to hold ard fheis in Kenny’s hometown

Sinn Féin is hoping it can build its support in the West of Ireland by holding its annual ard fheis in the Taoiseach’s home town of Castlebar this weekend.

The party’s strength has traditionally been concentrated in Dublin and it admits that its biggest challenge ahead of the next general election will be to develop the organisation in rural areas across the country.

“You have such a strong tradition of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in most rural areas — very little of the Labour Party in rural areas — that to come in and build up a structure in those areas takes time,” said Connemara- based senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.

“But we’re finding that doing something like an ard fheis in a place like Castlebar, mobilises not just Co Mayo — but it means that the people in Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Galway have to step up to the plate as well.”

The conference, entitled ‘A New Republic — Stronger Together’ will focus on the property tax due to come into effect in July and water charges planned for next year.

There will also be a strong focus on public sector reform and the proposed Croke Park II Agreement, with a motion to resist “yellow-pack” jobs created for new graduate nurses and teachers. There will be a section called “defending rural Ireland”.

MP for Newry/Armagh Conor Murphy, launching the ard fheis programme yesterday, said the party has up to 10% support in some parts of the country, but lacks the organisation to mobilise the vote.

One of the more contentious motions to be debated at the conference is “to articulate and vote on the issue of abortion according to their conscience”. This would give TDs a free vote on the issue in the Dáil. But Senator Kathryn Reilly said a similar motion was defeated at last year’s event and is likely to fail again.

The conference will call for a border poll or referendum on a united Ireland on both sides of the border.