Following a disappointing general election for Sinn Féin, party President Gerry Adams speaks to An Phoblacht, giving his views on the results, the campaign and on the lessons Sinn Féin needs to learn to get back on track in the 26 Counties. Free article

After years of initiatives and political landmarks being heralded as historic the term has become somewhat jaded. But there was nothing jaded about the launch of Sinn Féin's Charter for Unionist Engagement and nothing else describes the moment better than historic. There was an undeniable sense that we were all participating in a collective leap of faith that would enable us all to move forward. And it wasn't just a paper exercise. Free article

Sinn Féin TDs Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Arthur Morgan, Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Martin Ferris met in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon to review the outcome of the election campaign and to begin preparations for the incoming Dáil, including the formation of a new government. This follows a meeting of the party Officer Board, TDs and Assembly group on Monday. Free article

Sinn Féin returned four TDs to Leinster House last weekend, winning 143,410 first preferences up nearly 22,000 on the 121,039 votes won in 2002. Though the vote tally didn't reach the previous peak set in the 2004 EU elections when the party won 199,715 votes there was the added dimension that this time around Sinn Féin were in the running, seriously challenging, for seven Leinster House seats even with the state wide voting trend against smaller political parties. And with only two years to next local elections a clear trend path is visible to seat gains on local councils throughout the 26 Counties. Sinn Féin's vote rose in 18 constituencies, with falls in 13. Here, ROBBIE SMYTH takes a closer look at the figures. Free article

The election count in the three-seat constituency of Donegal North East proved to be a nail-biting affair with the battle for the last two seats going down to the wire. At the end, Sinn Féin's Pádraig Mac Lochlainn lost out to sitting Fianna Fáil TDs James McDaid and Niall Blaney after the distribution of their party colleague and sitting deputy, Cecilia Keaveney's transfers in the early hours of the morning. Free article

Listening to the radio as I made my way by taxi to the Lucan Sports and Leisure Centre complex for the Dublin Mid West election count last Friday, it was becoming increasingly clear that Sinn Féin was not going to meet its expectations. However, the prospect of Michael McDowell losing his seat looked promising. "Sure isn't that a great consolation in itself?", the taxi driver commented. Free article