2016 elections – New historic milestones

VOTING in the Southern general election will begin soon. By next week the make-up of the next Dáil will be clear.

There is a huge amount of punditry about likely outcomes in terms of Government. In the coming days there will be a lot more of that.

But there are three certainties.

First, Sinn Féin will have a good election. The party will gain increased representation in both the Dáil and the Seanad as a result.

At the outset of the general election campaign the myth of an economic recovery delivering in the interests of working families, the jobless and business people in the 26 Counties was exposed and, moreover, that the Fine Gael manifesto promises were based upon a cooking of the books.

There’s a massive anger and popular dissatisfaction that the Fine Gael and Labour coalition simply picked up where Fianna Fáil left off when that party was kicked out of government after it wrecked the state’s economy along with delinquent bankers and developers.

The second certainty clearly evidenced during this election campaign is that people want change.

The electorate will look to different parties and candidates tomorrow but voters will want reassurances that those to whom they entrust their support are indeed committed to real change and not just more of the same.

The 50 candidates in 40 constituencies Sinn Féin is standing for election in the Southern state have lived the experiences of the people. They understand the hardship inflicted upon local communities by the regimes of inequality presided over by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour. They represent the demand and right to a fair recovery and of equality in society.

That’s why we have emphasised the message during this campaign “Better With Sinn Féin”. In spite of the Southern Establishment’s hysterical tsunami of vilification against Sinn Féin, ordinary people understand exactly why they are indeed “Better With Sinn Féin”.

Once this general election is over, Sinn Féin will then contest Assembly elections in May.

Both tomorrow’s poll in the South and the election in the North on 5 May are major opportunities to advance the values and ideas of the 1916 Easter Rising and Proclamation by increasing Sinn Féin’s mandate across Ireland.

● South Antrim Assembly election convention

One week ago, I was proud to be selected to go forward as Sinn Fein’s candidate in the South Antrim constituency.

That part of County Antrim is my home. It’s where I grew up, learned Gaeilge, played football and hurled, and it’s where my political consciousness was shaped from childhood.

I’ll be standing as a Sinn Féin candidate in this momentous year with great pride and sense of history. I – like all others who will represent Sinn Féin on polling day tomorrow and on 5 May – will do so because we stand on the shoulders of giants.

Events and circumstances mould and shape but people inspire.

As I grew up I had the luck to meet and know inspirational people. Last Saturday, two days after my selection convention, republicans from Counties Antrim and Derry gathered at Cargin graveyard to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the tragic death of Anne McCoy (pictured).

Anne was a close family friend. I have fond memories of her kindness when I was a small boy. I remember visits, sweets being shared, and walking horses – but I also recall talk of British raids, arrests and Long Kesh.

At the time of her death, Anne was an IRA Volunteer; she was O/C of Cumann na mBan in County Antrim. She’s one of the reasons why I and so many others are the people we are today – good, decent citizens committed to creating a better, more inclusive society for everyone on this island.

It is unprecedented for these electoral opportunities North and South to happen in this year of the 1916 centenary, and during the 35th anniversary of the H-Blocks Hunger Strikers’ sacrifice. The third certainty is that in this centenary year the Ireland envisaged by the Proclamation has still to be achieved.

For as long as partition exists and the economic system creates inequality, joblessness, poverty and emigration – and for as long as social injustice exists, homeless people die on our streets, or freely available, high-quality healthcare, and educational opportunities are denied – then there will be a need for agents of change in Irish society.

Sinn Féin is the engine for that change.

We are a party of proud, decent, dedicated citizens motivated by the visionary ideals of 1916. No amount of criminalisation or vilification South or North can take away from that. In 2016, the lesson is clear – we need a peaceful, democratic, people’s rising to continue the transformation of Irish society inspired by Easter Week 1916.

Let’s ensure the elections of 26 February 2016 and 5 May 2016 become new historic milestones in the journey towards achieving an agreed, united Ireland which cherishes all children and citizens of the nation equally.