There were some tough nights. We saw first-hand the hardships endured by families. Sinn Féin’s historic result places a heavy burden on all of us, from the leadership to the grassroots and everyone in between to deliver the change these families so desperately need Free article

For me, General Election 2020 was worlds apart from the 2016 General Election. I was just 21 years old when I was first selected to run for Sinn Féin in Roscommon/Galway in 2015. Looking back, the experience I gained between then and the 2020 election really stood to me. I stood for the party, as I did in 2016 with the aim of building the party’s vote in Roscommon/Galway, neither of which would traditionally be a stronghold for Sinn Féin. Free article

Just a little short of twenty-three years ago Sinn Féin secured the election of its first non-abstentionist TD since the imposition of partition. Eleven years had passed since the party took the decision to enter the Dáil. General Elections were fought without success in 1987, 1989 and 1992. Sinn Féin candidates had to contest those elections with at least one hand tied behind their backs. Free article

I call the most recent election, one of hope as it really did see the political landscape change in a way we have never seen before here in the 26 counties. Free article

In the aftermath of the Westminster general election, and with a majority of nationalist MPs returned in the North for the first time ever, it’s clear that the entire Brexit debacle has dealt a potentially fatal blow to political unionism. Free article

1969 was a watershed year for the North and for republicans. It began with a People’s Democracy march being attacked by B-Specials and Unionists at Burntollet, outside Derry. That was in January. In July a Catholic pensioner, Francis McCloskey, was killed in Dungiven and Samuel Devenny died from injuries he received when batoned in his home in Derry in April by the RUC. In the following months there were further attacks on Catholic neighbourhoods. These included attacks by the Shankill Defence Association, supported by the RUC and B-Specials, against Unity Flats and Catholic families in the Crumlin Road area. Young activists like me spent a lot of our time assisting people in these communities. Free article

Is dócha go bhfuil an Ghaeilge á labhairt fá cheantar Bhéal Feirste Thuaidh a fhad agus atá sí á labhairt áit ar bith eile sa tír seo. Tá a fhios againn, mar shampla, gur suíomh tábhachtach ag sliocht Uí Néill, rítheaghlach Uladh, Cnoc na hUaimhe nó Beann Mhadagáin anallód. Thóg Brian Mac Airt Uí Néill dún clúiteach ar an chnoc seo, Dún Mhic Airt, a raibh ríchathaoir istigh ann leis na céadta bliain go dtí gur scriosadh í ag loitiméirí dílseacha na háite sa 19ú céad. Free article