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How Sinn Fein is organised
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Conas ata Sinn Fein eagraithe ?
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Sinn Fein is organised throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. In this it is unique. Anybody who lives
on the island of Ireland, and is aged 16 or over can apply to be a member of the party. Separate arrangements
can be made for people overseas who wish to support Sinn Fein. The Sinn Fein party structure is as follows:
(from the bottom up)
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Cumann ( Local or Workplace Branch )
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The cumann is the most important part of Sinn Fein because it is the most visible and active republican
presence in any community.
The cumann must consist of no fewer than five people and has a recommended
maximun of twenty. It can be organised in a workplace, college, university, village, town or city.
Members of a cumann elect delegates to their Comhairle Ceanntair, the Cuige, and to the party's annual
Ard Fheis ( National delegate conference ).
Cumann members carry out a regular programme
of activity on a wide range of social, economic and political issues.
The core aim of Sinn Fein
cumainn are to mobilise and help empower communities and build popular support for the party by articulating
and implementing republican policies.
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Many parties try to paint a picture that Sinn Fein, have no interest in politics and have no democratic
agenda. These claims like many others however are parties simply denying the existence of Sinn Fein,
in the blinkered notion that Sinn Fein might just go away. However the reality is probably best shown
in the picture above. Party leader Gerry Adams MP and chief negotiator Martin Mc Guinness MP hold aloft
the Sinn Fein TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Caoimhin O Caoilain. This shows that Sinn Fein enjoy an elected
mandate to the Dail in Leinster House, the Parliament in Westminister, and with a healthy representation
in the Assembly in Stormont, Sinn Fein could rightly claim to be the most democratic party on both these
islands.
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Comhairle Ceanntair ( District Executive )
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The Comharle Ceanntair is based on county electoral areas and provides a resource as well as direction
to all cumann in its area. The Comhairle Ceanntair oversees party organisation, fund raising and local
election campaigns and initiatives.
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Cuige ( Regional executive )
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Sinn Fein cuigi are based on the five European Union electoral constituencies in Ireland - Dublin, Leinster,
Munster, Connaught/Ulster, and the Six counties. It organises, publicises, develops and co-ordinates
Sinn Fein activities in its region.
It is made up of an officer board elected from among the
delegates nominated by the regions Conhairli Ceanntair and cumainn.
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Coiste Seasta ( Standing committee )
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The Coiste Seasta meets every week to ten days to oversee the day to day running of Sinn Fein.
It is an eight member body nominated by the Ard Comhairle and also includes the chairperson of each Cuige.
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Ard Comhairle ( National Executive )
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The Ard Comhairle meets at least once a month. It directs the overall implemtation of Sinn Fein policy
and activities of the party. The Ard Comhairle also oversees the operation of various departments of
Sinn Fein, such as -
- Administration
- Finance
- National Orgainisation
- Campaigns
- Ogra Sinn Fein
- The Womens Forum
- Cultural Activities
- Publicity
- International
Affairs
It is made up of the following: Officer Board and nine other members, all of whom are
elected by delegates to the Ard Fheis. 15 people representing the five Cuige regions ( 3 representatives
each ). The Ard Comhairle can co-opt eight members for specific posts and additional members can be co-opted,
if necessary, to ensure that at least 30 per cent of Ard Comhairle members are women.
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Ard Fheis ( National delegate conference )
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The Ard Fheis is the ultimate policy making body of Sinn Fein where delegates - directly elected by
members of the cumainn - can decide on and implement policy. It is held at least once a year but a special
Ard Fheis can be called by the Ard Comhairle or the membership, under special circumstances.
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To find out where to contact Sinn Fein in your own area click the support link.
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