Gerry Adams was the guest speaker at the unveiling of a memorial to 1916 martyr Thomas Kent at Kent station in Cork city at the weekend. The Kent Memorial was commissioned and erected by a committee of railway workers at Cork's Kent station and was unveiled by Kathleen Kent, a niece of Thomas Kent.

Addressing the large crowd in bright sunshine, Adams paid tribute to the Kent family. ``The Kents were fine people, people who took a stand, people who were principled and who because of thes were in and out of prison.

``It is worthwhile to try and imagine what it was like to be alive at that time. To be standing at the grave of O'Donovan Rossa and listen to Padraigh Mac Piaras deliver his oration; to be involved with the preparations for the 1916 Rising.

But what would Thomas Kent have had to say about today? Would he be satisfied that Ireland is still partitioned? Would he be happy that there are still divisions between our people, whether republican, nationalist or unionist? Would he be happy that the British still have jurisdiction over part of our island? Would he consider that all the children of the nation are treated equally? What would he made of the stories of terrible corruption? How would he feel about how people in rural areas are treated?

``When we look back at 1916 in terms of world history we see that Britain held an immense empire. To take a stand against that was mighty, and the Kent family did that and should be remembered for it. In this day of the Celtic Tiger, do our people not deserve decent homes, proper education and an efficient health system? If you come from Cork or the Bogside, do our children not deserve equal opportunities? Our birthright should be to have equality of opportunity in a free Ireland.''

Also speaking at the event, Cork's Lord Mayor, Damien Wallace, expressed admiration for the work of the republican leadership and other nationalists in pushing the peace process forward. This sentiment was supported by those representatives of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour who addressed the crowd.

Erne East and Newtownabbey Sinn Féin challenge

Fermanagh farmer Stephen Huggett is the front runner for the Erne East by-election to Fermanagh Council on 31 May.

Huggett, who secured the Sinn Féin nomination in early April, just missed being elected to the Erne East ward in 1997 when he missed out on transfers from the SDLP.

The Erne East by-election was called after the sitting councillor, Patrick McCaffrey, resigned for personnel reasons. Despite attempts by Sinn Féin to have Huggett co-opted, given his previous near miss, the by-election was called after unionist Sam Foster objected.

Ironically, UUP man Foster is a pro-Agreement unionist while his party's choice for this election is anti-Agreement man Alan Latimer. The DUP, after some deliberations, nominated David Black. With Latimer also in the `No' camp of unionism, unionist voters have very little to choose from.

John Rooney is the SDLP representative, while Independent Tony Brady is also in the frame.

Stephen Huggett has a farm near Garrison and has been involved in republican political activity for many years. Born in London, he graduated in politics and economics from London University, was an executive member of the Connolly Association, and campaigned for the H Block prisoners and for the release of the Birmingham 6 and the Guildford 4.

As a member of Sinn Féin, Huggett has campaigned on many community issues and is, presently, focused on the plight of farmers, who are facing one of the worst crises in farming in many years.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin candidate in the Newtownabbey by-election, Roisin McGurk will make history whatever the outcome.

She is the first member of Sinn Féin to contest a seat in the strongly unionist borough. Speaking to An Phoblacht, Kevin Vernon, McGurk's election agent, said the party has a realistic chance of taking the seat.

The election was caused by the death of former mayor of the borough Ulster Unionist Edward Crilly, but with Sinn Féin appealing to many nationalists who see the party giving a lead, there may well be a decisive swing away from the SDLP to Sinn Féin.

The party is also approaching the election in confident mood given its unprecedented success in retaining its seat on Antrim council in March, a result that shocked the SDLP.

Roisin McGurk, a mother of two, has lived in Glengormley, the main area of population in the electoral area, for 15 years.

She has long worked in the community in the area. She has a severely disabled son and has worked hard to promote the rights of the disabled in the area.

Accusing Newtownabbey council of discrimination against those living in the Antrim Line ward, Roisin says she intends to bring to an end the disparities which characterise the council's approach.

Kehoe to challenge in Taoiseach's constituency

Sinn Féin has selected Cabra/Glasnevin Councillor Nicky Kehoe to be its general election candidate in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's Dublin Central constituency.

In last year's local elections, Councillor Kehoe took the second of five seats, polling 2,380 votes. Sinn Féin is mounting a strong challenge for one of the four seats in Dublin Central. Kehoe, a construction worker, was nominated by North Inner City Councillor Christy Burke at a selection convention in Dublin on Sunday, 14 May. Kehoe is pictured here at the opening of the new Sheriff Street Park and Playground in Dublin's north inner city on Monday, 15 May.

New beginning for Kerry Sinn Féin

A crowd of almost 500 people gathered in bright sunshine at Moyderwell cross in Tralee, County Kerry, to witness the official opening of the refurbished Sinn Féin premises in the town by party president Gerry Adams on Saturday, 13 May.

Paying tribute to the outstanding, and entirely voluntary, work carried out by Sinn Féin activists and supporters who worked literally around the clock to complete the project, Gerry Adams described the new premises as a testament to the continuing strong growth of Sinn Féin in the South West, and went on to say that ``the work carried out in renovating these premises is an example of grassroots Sinn Féin activists and supporters taking ownership of the struggle''.

The opening ceremony included the unveiling of a plaque dedicating the new premises to the memory of Volunteers Michael Horgan, Paddy Boyle and Maurice Prendergast, Óglaigh na hÉireann, Chiarraí, whose outstanding commitment and dedication to the republican struggle, according to Adams, ``had helped to make this day possible''.

A press conference for local and national media was held in the upstairs offices of the new premises, after which Adams delivered an update on development in the peace process to republican activists in Kerry. Accompanied by Kerry Sinn Féin Councillors Martin Ferris, Cathal Foley and Anthony Curtin, the Sinn Féin president next visited the Jeanie Johnston Famine replica ship in Fenit, which is due to sail to the United States shortly. The Sinn Féin party was enthusiastically received by the crowd and workers on the project, to which young people from north and south contributed.

A very successful day was concluded with Adams delivering the oration at the annual Gortaglanna commemoration in North Kerry in memory of Volunteers Dalton, Lyons and Lynch, killed by the Black and Tans in May 1921. Adams paid tribute to the memory of all the Kerry Volunteers who lost their lives in the struggle and called on the almost 300 people assembled to ``do that little bit more'' to advance republican aims and objectives. ``I will always remember that Kerry never let the republican struggle down,'' he said.

In the South West, so often overlooked by the political elite responsible for governing the 26 Counties, the message sent out on Saturday was clear. Sinn Féin is now, more than ever, a political force to be reckoned with.

Sinn Féin's university challenge

Sinn Féin's progress throughout Ireland is nowhere more evident than in third level institutions, where tremendous growth is evident, especially in the 26 Counties. Republican students have organised new societies or reorganised pre-existing ones, with such success that Sinn Féin is now the strongest political party on Irish campuses.

This growth is most readily apparent at the National University

of Ireland, Galway and the University of Limerick. At NUI Galway, Sinn Féin has become, from modest beginnings just a year ago, the strongest party society on campus. Their work providing intriguing guest speakers and promoting awareness of issues through protests caught the attention of the university students (and the Gardaí as well) and they won the campus award for the best new or improved society. University of Limerick Sinn Féin also won its campus-wide award. Both universities then competed for best improved society at national level. It was the first time that a political party society achieved such a feat and for it to occur twice at the same time is solid proof of the influence of Sinn Féin among students.

Though Sinn Féin is historically the oldest party on the island, it is also the youngest and most vibrant in its ideals. It is this enthusiasm that appeals to university students.

As support for Sinn Féin societies rises, none of them are content to rest upon their laurels. Sinn Féin at third level is providing a growing outlet for the swelling numbers of young people disaffected with corrupt party politics in Ireland and that strength bodes well for the future of the party.