Against a backdrop of DUP bad faith, a critically low level of Irish Government engagement and a British Government who have pandered to DUP intransigence, the leadership of Sinn Féin met for the second time in three weeks to chart a way forward on the policing issue. Free article

The Extraordinary Ard Fheis scheduled for 28 January places in the hands of Sinn Féin delegates the responsibility for taking a further decisive step in the development of the republican peace strategy and in the advancement of the peace process. Already the debate on the motion proposed by the Ard Chomhairle has begun and hundreds of delegates will travel to the Ard Fheis mandated by the party structures to make a democratic decision. Free article

Republicans are determined to move the policing issue forward despite the failure of the DUP leadership. We do so because it is an issue that our community demands be resolved to our satisfaction. We believe that we have achieved the threshold required to create the desired new beginning to policing. As Gerry Adams stated, for years we stayed outside policing structures because that was the best way to bring about change. Now, having reached an acceptable threshold we need to move into those structures as the best way to maximise change. Free article

VINCENT McGRATH of the Rossport Five talks to ELLA O'DWYER about current developments in the Shell to Sea campaign Free article

COUNCILLOR PÁDRAIG Mac LOCHLAINN (33), a former mayor of Buncrana, is the Sinn Féin candidate for Donegal North-East in the 26-County general election. He is the son of the late Réamonn Mac Lochlainn, an IRA Volunteer who was captured in England in 1974 during an operation which claimed the life of Volunteer James McDade. Imprisoned in English jails for nine-and-a-half years he was moved from jail to jail under the British policy of 'ghosting' prisoners. He died tragically at the age of 34 in a swimming accident in Shannon, County Clare Here Pádraig Mac Lochlainn talks to ELLA O'DWYER about what influenced his own decision to become involved in Irish republican politics, the priority issues for his constituency, and the 'all-county approach' that gives him and his fellow candidate, Pearse Doherty, a fighting chance to win more Dáil seats in Ulster. Free article

This week Mícheál MacDonncha begins a monthly series marking the 50th anniversary of the IRA's Resistance Campaign - more widely known as the Border Campaign - which commenced in December 1956. The series will be based on the monthly republican newspaper of the time An tÉireannach Aontaithe/The United Irishman. Free article

Tá mo shrón lán le smugairle agus mo chorp ag crith - cé go bhfuil slaghdán orm bhí mé amuigh ar an pháirc ag imirt iomána leis na gasúir is girseacha ag a hocht a chlog ar maidin - táimid ag iarraidh foireann a chur san iomaíocht sa McKenna Cup ós rud é go bhfuil siad ag ligint gach saghas foirne sa chomórtas. Free article

It is only the middle of January but already the hype has started! Only this time the hype does not concern Dublin but near neighbours Wicklow. It is true that the fact that Dublin are down to play them in Saturday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final has added to the mix, but even if it were not for that Wicklow's climb to such dizzying heights would have attracted attention on its own merits no matter who the opposition was to be. Free article

Our Story. The Rossport 5, Published by Small World Media, Price: €12.50 Free article

Tá sé le tabhairt faoi deara le déanaí go bhfuil feachtas á dhíriú i gcoinne na Gaeilge ó aontachtaithe ar mhian leo cosc a chur ar aon dul chun cinn maidir le cearta daonna, cearta náisiúnaithe agus cearta lucht labhartha na Gaeilge. Is léir le linn tríocha bliain streachailte agus cogaidh, nach bhfuil ceacht ar bith foghlamtha ag cuid mhaith den cheannasaíocht aontachtach pholaitiúil agus go bhfuil siad sáite sa chineál céanna biogóideachais is a bhí siad riamh. I láthair na huaire tá lucht labhartha na Gaeilge i mbun feachtais le hacht teanga Gaeilge a bheith curtha i bhfeidhm sna Sé Chontae, ar aon dul leis an gcineál achta chéanna atá i bhfeidhm sna Sé Chontae is Fiche - Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003. Free article