Sinn Féin commemorate their past and discuss future | Audrey Ellard Walsh
Thursday the 10th of January saw UCC’s Sinn Féin/ Martin Hurson Cumman host party members from Cork and further afield at their annual commemoration. The procession, which marched from the Student Centre to Gaol Cross, was led by a colour party, the MacCurtain/MacSwiney republican flute band, and followed by torch bearers and members of the public.Approximately 50 people marched from the Student Centre to Gaol Cross and the Republican memorial near the Kane building to the thirteen volunteers who were executed in 1921 when that area belonged to the Cork Gaol. Also remembered was John Joe Kavanagh who was killed by the Free State Special Branch in 1940 whilst trying to tunnel into the gaol to free prisoners and for whom a plaque is erected at Gaol Cross. UCC Sinn Féin’s first year Rep Eoin Quill laid a wreath in memory of Mr. Kavanagh and the colour party lowered the tricolour.The group then moved to the on campus Republican plot where Stephen Cunningham, the society’s Auditor welcomed the group gathered. Following this the names of the thirteen deceased were read aloud by Tadhg O’Laoighre, and a moment’s silence was again observed, whilst the colour party again lowered their flags. Odran O’Crocrain, UCC SF PRO, recited the proclamation of the Irish Republic, and Gavin Lynch-Frahill, UCC SF Education Officer, laid a wreath at the monument. Following this, Alan Conway, UCC SF Ex-Officio, gave a speech which dealt with his time in the College Cumann and what it means to continue the tradition of republicanism today.The main oration of the night was given by Martin Ferris TD, who’s speech focused primarily upon the importance of continuing to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by members in the past for the Republican cause “Our past is what we are”, he declared as he accused other political parties of paying lip service to the Proclamation and betraying the public by “pauperis[ing] this country for the next twenty years”He focused specifically on the importance of education and the need for equality of opportunity regardless of economic status and affirmed this as a key priority for the party.He placed an onus upon those present to educate, organise and agitate “no matter what it takes” at the ballot box, on the streets and in communities and to fight the current government and hold them accountable for their shortcomings.“I look out here tonight so proud and so honoured to be in your presence. Young people with a vision, young people with ideals, young people that will lead us out of this mess that these corrupt so-called politicians have left to us. You are the future and you will make it happen.” InterviewPrior to the commemoration, I had the opportunity to speak with Martin Ferris about Sinn Féin’s priorities and the prospect of coalition in the future. With the party having undergone a serious facelift in recent times, and public opinion responding positively, I was curious to meet a man who’s own personal past mirrors this turnaround, including hunger strike and periods of imprisonment IRA activity. He has since then served as an MEP and has been involved in national politics since his election to Dáil Eireann in 2002.I first meet a follower of his who has been his neighbour all his life, except for when he was “away”. He asks me “You’re not going to ask about his time in prison are you?”. When I confirm I will avoid the topic I am assured that he is a lovely man. Martin Ferris appears and strikes me as amiable and friendly but I am conscious of keeping him on side, aware that any questions of IRA involvement will most likely be flatly denied. I explain that I am interested in his opinions on current affairs and he seems perfectly happy to answer anything.I begin by asking firstly why that night’s commemoration is important and whether nationalism is really a top priority in these economic times. “No, it’s not a top priority, it is one of our obligations as Irish Republicans. Our priorities will always be trying to ensure by our policies that they will be to the benefit of most people, they will be there for the common good as distinct from the individual, from a select elitist group. We believe in the common good, we believe in the rights and entitlements for all people.”He is keen to speak about education as mentioned in his public address, and states that “We believe that education is a right and not a privilege for a start and that education should be there right across the board, free at source for everybody to access it” Sinn Féin have been consistently vocal on the topic of the grant system, with Ferris stating in the past that he believes the SUSI system has failed. I was curious to know what they plan on concretely doing to change things, and if these plans are indeed realistic. “...a proper taxation system here where working adults would pay proportionate to their income so we could have an education system right across the board that was free, so that we would have a health system right across the board that would be free- that is what we are striving to bring about. Take for instance in the Nordic countries where you have in some instances in excess of 60% taxation but everything else is free. I think that’s what we have to strive for, that’s when you move towards equality of opportunity.”Sinn Féin have seen a consistent increase in popularity since 2011. The 10th of January saw the release of the most recent RedC poll, placing Sinn Féin at 16%- 3 points above Labour but still trailing behind Fine Gael (29%) and Fianna Fáil. I asked the Deputy about the reasons for his party’s increase in popularity and the possibility of entering into coalition come the next General Election.“I think more and more people are coming to realise that there is only one alternative and that is Sinn Féin. I have no doubt that Sinn Féin will be in government in the South but in order for us to be in government in a coalition it will be determined by how our policies will be implemented. We will not go into government for the sake of going into government. We will go into government only when we believe we can make that change, when our policies can be implemented for the common good.” Are other parties prepared to go into government with us, he asks “are they prepared to change? “Well they’ll have to make up their mind on that.”I finally asked about his opinion on the current debate surrounding legislating for the X case, specifically if he believed another referendum is necessary and whether or not TDs should have a free vote on the matter.“I don’t think the argument for referendum has any substance in so far as we had a referendum in relation to this where the people did vote for the limited abortion around the X case. I think what is happening here is you have a situation where some people have consistently demonised young women, many whom through no fault of their own, without any real choice really had to go out of the country and have terminations. There is definitely an obligation on us as legislators to do the right thing, again for the greater good. We are legislators, we were elected to legislate and when you’re elected to legislate and there is a determination there by the Supreme Court of this land and the European Court of Justice to do that and to advocate our responsibilities respective of our own personal position is a copout and that is why I don’t believe there should be a free vote.”Martin Ferris comes across as reasoned and reasonable. He struck me as someone who is genuinely interested in making a difference. Whether he is simply another seasoned political actor keen to tell me what I want to hear is difficult to decipher. One thing is clear, Sinn Féin are leaping in the polls. They are presenting an alternative way of politics that evidently continues to capture imaginations. The question remains though, will they make it into power without compromising their policies and if so will it be anytime soon? 