No Sinn Féin ard fheis ahead of 2016 election

Sinn Féin will not hold an ard fheis before the general election but is planning a special 1916 event before the other parties’ conferences.

Leader Gerry Adams said that, on the advice of RTÉ, the party has decided not to hold its party conference ahead of an election as it risks losing out on coverage.

“RTÉ advised us that obviously if we set a date for the ard fheis and the election was called we wouldn’t get coverage and during an election campaign arguably the last place you want to be is at an ard fheis — you want to be out there talking to people,” said Mr Adams.