Sinn Féin Party

(SF)

   An Irish nationalist, republican party formed in 1902 by Arthur Griffith, the words meaning ‘we ourselves’. It was reorganised and re-invented at different times in the twentieth century, appearing in its present form in the 1970s as a party committed to the creation of a socialist united republic for the whole of Ireland. Having at one time justified the use of ‘the armalite and the ballot paper’, it now claims to reject political violence and under the leadership of Gerry Adams has participated in the peace process. In the past, Unionist leaders such as Ian Paisley were unimpressed by the claim, arguing that senior Sinn Féin members have continuing links with the Irish Republican Army. Sinn Féin has fared well in recent elections in the province, winning five seats in the 2005 election. Its members do not take their seats at Westminster, for they do not accept the partition of Ireland or the authority of the British Government to rule in the six counties of the North. However, since May 2007 the party has been in a power-sharing agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party and is a partner in the devolved administration. Martin McGuinness is Deputy First Minister and three other members belong to Sinn Féin.