| Sinn Féin on the brink of
historic stride WHILE the date of Tony Blair’s retirement
from the post of Prime Minister continues to obsess political commentators
on this side of the Irish Sea it would be easy to forget a bigger, more
important transformation in government could soon be under way in Ireland.
This week’s Assembly elections in the North of Ireland and a looming
General Election in the Republic hold out the possibility that Sinn Féin
could make its biggest political strides ever.
The process started with the IRA’s historic decision to end the
armed struggle and gathered pace with Sinn Féin’s even more
momentous vote to recognise the Police Service Of Northern Ireland.
Those two steps are now being capitalised on as the party leadership looks
to cement a place at the centre of politics on the entire island of Ireland.
The transformation of militant Republicanism was emphasised at Sinn Féin’s
Ard Fheis over the weekend where the talk was of the war being definitively
over and the focus needing to move to building a successful peace.
Even calls for the party not to take its place on the Policing Board until
power had been devolved from London were soundly defeated.
To understand why you only need to look at the possible outcomes of the
two elections North and South of the border.
For power-sharing is now the name of the game.
In the North Sinn Féin believe DUP leader Ian Paisley will be forced
into some sort of compromise after the votes are in.
Both sides are acutely aware power-sharing is the only way to prevent
a return of direct rule from London.
With that achieved Sinn Féin can turn its attention to the General
Election campaign in the Republic with the date for the poll now widely
expected to be May.
At present the major political parties have all ruled out any sort of deal
with Gerry Adams and his supporters but what if there were a hung Dáil?
You can bet there would be a procession of politicians scurrying to their
doors if Sinn Féin held the balance of power.
So far Sinn Féin’s support has stayed relatively static
in the opinion polls in the Republic but there's no reason to think that
couldn’t suddenly change.
The next few months could prove very interesting indeed.
THE BIGGEST annual celebration of Irish culture is almost upon us. And
this year it’s set to last even longer than ever.
This weekend sees the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities get under
way in Manchester, Birmingham and a host of towns across the country.
Over St. Patrick’s weekend itself London, Glasgow, Nottingham, Newcastle
and others will be staging their celebrations.
In all it’s estimated more than half-a-million people will be joining
in with the main parades and events — with many more taking part
in smaller celebrations nationwide.
Not only that but so inclusive are each year’s St. Patrick’s
Day celebrations that the crowds will be swelled by other nationalities
from around the world keen to get a taste of that special Irish welcome.
There can be no more vivid example of the respect the Irish community
in Britain is held in today in that everyone wants to join the celebration.
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