Opinion

Allison Morris: Historic Sinn Féin ard fheis all about shifting power to Dublin

Mary Lou McDonald is expected to take the top job. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Mary Lou McDonald is expected to take the top job. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Mary Lou McDonald is expected to take the top job. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

It was described as historic, and it was for several reasons, but Sinn Féin have held a fair few historic Ard-Fheiseanna over the years.

There was the one where Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and Dáithí Ó Conaill stormed out of following the party's decision to end abstentionism to the Dáil.

There was the 2007 special ard fheis when members voted to support policing and the criminal justice system.

The one addressed by the Reverend David Latimer, the first Presbyterian minister to be invited to speak at a Sinn Féin ard fheis.

And then there was Saturday.

Historic for many reasons, the end of an era as Gerry Adams announced his plans to retire in an uncharacteristically personal speech, mentioning his family who usually ferociously guard their privacy.

Like the late Martin McGuinness, the Adams legacy will mean different things to different people.

To some he will always be regarded as an apologist and director of the IRA's campaign, to those gathered in Dublin at the weekend he is held in iconic status and regardless of his retirement will always be considered their leader.

What now for one of the world's longest serving political leaders?

It was a tenure that went unchallenged from within, almost unheard of in the cut throat world of politics.

Throughout his time in power the only calls for Gerry Adams to stand down or retire came from rivals and enemies. Sinn Féin may class itself as a party of rebellion but it is not one whose membership are prone to rebel.

Mr Adams is unlikely to see out his days pottering in the garden. It is more likely he will adopt an ambassadorial role for the party and show up at fundraisers to rapturous applause.

Plans for his political legacy, however, could be seen in the other events during the 'historic' ard fheis.

Among them a change to allow the party to form a government in the south as minority partner, a sure fire signal that the change of leadership will be more palatable to the moderate electorate in the Republic, and to any potential government partners.

The party's ambitions now lie with Dublin's Mary Lou McDonald who they hope will be viewed as a safe pair of hands and suitable for a senior role in government.

A lot of the debate was also around long overdue changes to the party's policy on abortion.

Previously the party had said they would only support change in limited cases of fatal foetal abnormality and even then elected members would often dodge the issue.

Standing on a platform of equality for all while denying women rights over their own bodies was not a sustainable position for a party of the left.

The motion to support abortions in cases where women's health may be impacted was not universally welcomed by party members. However, it gives them a point of difference when it comes to knocking on doors seeking votes in the Republic with the repeal the eighth amendment campaign popular among young voters.

In fact everything about this historic ard fheis was about getting into government in the south where the party has an impressive line up of potential TDs and MEPs.

The location, the motions, the changes were all made with both eyes on the Republic.

The political crisis at Stormont was a mere footnote.

The difference in the party membership north and south has never been so glaringly obvious.

Brexit has changed everything, since the referendum Sinn Féin see an opportunity, albeit not one of their making, to get a border poll and more importantly a potentially successful one.

Sinn Féin will only go back into Stormont if the DUP roll over and let them tickle their belly like obedient puppies.

Just as the power within Sinn Féin has shifted to Dublin, the power in the DUP has shifted quite dramatically to Westminster.

With each week that passes Arlene Foster's once iron grip on the party weakens and the characters currently lording it up in Westminster are not likely to offer or agree to a compromise with republicans to save her skin.

Sinn Féin know this, they know they can just wait out the negotiations for as long as it takes, they don't particularly need Stormont in the same way Arlene Foster does.

And for all those reasons this ard fheis was historic and was about securing and strengthening Adams's all island strategy and his ambitions for Sinn Féin as a party of government in the south.

It is ironic that it took him to stand aside to allow the final phase of that strategy and ultimately his legacy to be completed.