Voting for Sınn Féın is seen as the way to address the social issues named on placards carried by protestors – culture, houses, Brits Out, jobs – in order to bring about “a new Ireland”.
Sınn Féın’s electoral strategy emerged from the 1981 hunger strike, during which Bobby Sands was elected as an MP and Paddy Agnew and Kieran Doherty were elected as TDs. In October of that year, Danny Morrison famously asked at the Ard Fheıs, “Will anyone here object if, with a ballot paper in this hand and an Armalite in the other, we take power in Ireland?”
In 1983, Alex Maskey stood for Belfast City Council in a by-election [after the resignation of … whom? – please get in touch] and was successful (WP) – there are a campaign graffito and posters to the right. Shortly afterward, Gerry Adams stood in the Westminster election and was successful (ARK).
Beechmount/RPG Avenue, Beechmount, west Belfast, replacing James Connolly in Let Us Rise and Cormac’s Notes.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1983 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 