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.