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Third Councillor Quits – Where next for Sinn Féin?
Read more about: Comment, News, Sinn Féin 
Sinn Féin lost their third councillor since the June local elections on Saturday. Lousie Minihan, a Dublin City Councillor from the Ballyfermot/Drimnagh ward left the party, taking her seat with her. She told The Irish Times that she believed Sinn Fein was no longer focused on “ending British rule in Ireland and the establishment of an Irish democratic socialist republic”. Though it has yet to be announced officially, it’s acknowledged that Minihan will join Éirigi – a Dublin-based socialist republican campaigning group founded in 2006 that has a large ex-Sinn Féin contingent.
This leaves Sinn Féin with just five Dublin City Council seats, they had nine following the 2004 locals, though admittedly the boundary changes haven’t been kind to them. Since the results were tallied Christy Burke has quit the party, he has now been joined by Minihan – Wexford councillor John Dwyer also got off the bus in the mean time.
On a national level, word has reached me that both Martin Ferris and his daughter, Toiresa, are understood to want out of politics. Toiresa was being molded to make a run in the next GE and given her performance in the Euros would have been a prospect for taking a seat – but she will be an unwilling candidate, if a candidate at all. I’ve also been told by a solid source that her father wants out but has been persuaded to keep the faith by senior party figures thus far.
How will the results of conversations in Chateau de Ferris impact Sinn Féin?
What, if anything, does the exit of 3 councillors say about the internal workings, and thus, the future of the party?
“No longer focused on “ending British rule in Ireland and the establishment of an Irish democratic socialist republic”.”
Well if she’s still living in the dark ages Sinn Fein are better off without her.
It wouldn’t surprise me that Toiresa is suffering the consequences of too excessive an immersion in politics from too young an age. I’ve long contended that we’d all be better off if people in political office had some experience of more regular run of the mill jobs instead of going from school to college to some political position all the while mainlining politics from some youth wing or family involvement. That goes for FG folks too in case anyone is wondering.
I definitely had the feeling from her post count interviews that she had no great desire to spend every waking hour trudging up and down highways and by ways especially when she has quite young children. Is there something so wrong with the electorate that we’re demanding that people be family orientated but then we’re astounded if people prioritise their families over politics?
As for the other more concrete departures, I think at least some of this is down to the longevity of the SF leadership and a feeling that the review of the ’07 GE campaign never amounted to anything. Even the DUP have found a life after Paisley, SF should have looked seriously at what needed to be done post ’07 and planned accordingly. Instead it seems they stalled for time in the hope that people should forget that election and that events would play into their hands.
I think she said it right in her article and probably Daniel has a point and I believe there are some in the party who very obviously aren’t competent enoughand that some who hold sway assume that Gerry will bring influence and events will play into Sinn Fein’s luck.
I don’t think her dissatisfaction at the lack of post election action indicates someone who in their own heart is intent or wishing to walk away …do you?