9 things we’ve learned from the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis

SINN FÉIN MEMBERS gathered in the Dublin Convention Centre this weekend for the party’s annual Ard Fheis.

With this year marking the centenary of the 1916 Rising – it was no surprise that this year’s event centred around the Irish Proclamation, a united Ireland and reconciliation.

Water charges was also a hot topic of discussion (also a hot topic for the two establishment parties this weekend too.)

There was lots to discuss and lots of talking points that emerged.

Here’s what we learned from the weekend:

PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

1. Sinn Féin don’t hold back when it comes to Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil 

The words Tweedledum and Tweedledee featured in quite a few speeches this weekend.

Mary Lou McDonald called the establishment parties “the old guard politicians” who are holding the Dáil to ransom.

Gerry Adams said it was time for the two parties to “sort it” and get on with forming a government or go back to the people.

2. Mary Lou McDonald is ‘scarlet’ for Micheal Martin

The deputy leader is known for being a powerful speaker – and she didn’t waste the opportunity today.

She gave a scathing speech about the establishment parties – particularly Fianna Fáil, using the well-known Dublin saying: ‘Scarlet for ya.’

3. The two hours of live TV coverage were used wisely

The party packed literally dozens of delegates into its two hours on RTÉ One between 11am and 1pm today in an attempt to get them some national exposure.

Donegal TD Pearse Doherty gave a strong speech on how those dealing with economic policy cannot forget the people behind the numbers.

They are policies that recognise that it not possible to cut taxes and cross your fingers and hope that everything works out ok, which is what Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil want to do.

Or leave all things to the market , when  there are some things that the market sees as commodities to be bought and sold regardless of long-term social and economic consequences.

You cannot treat a hospital bed the same way as a mobile phone.

You cannot have an economic policy that treats social cohesion as something that just gets in the way.

The problems we face as a people are far too great, they run way too deep, to be fixed with such empty and futile gestures as tax credits and modular homes.

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4. There was some serious song, dance and craft at the Ard Fheis. 

Before Gerry Adams took to the stage, there was a play, poetry, Bobby Sand diary entry readings and Irish music to boot.

Hand-made tapestries lined the Convention Centre walls.

Each patch representing a person who had died during the conflicts in Northern Ireland.

The Irish football team meeting the pope in 1990.Source: EMPICS Sport

5. The party wants to see an all-Ireland soccer team 

A Sinn Féin voted in favour of establishing a 32-county soccer team. A party delegate addressed the conference and called for a all-Ireland soccer team, saying that a "uniting team shows solidarity to people in need".

It's every Dublin boy's dream to play for Ireland, lets make it every Belfast boy's dream to play for Ireland too.

6. Sinn Féin says the partition is the 'elephant in the room'

Throughout the Ard Fheis and coinciding with 1916 commemorations, the overriding theme was the partition and the reunification of Ireland.

In a speech that received a standing ovation, McDonald described partition as the “elephant in the room”.

She said the republic envisaged by James Connolly and Patrick Pearse “doesn’t end at Newry. The North is not a foreign land.”

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Today – as I stand here before you – myself and my 9-year-old daughter have been homeless for 298 days. That is 298 days living in what the outgoing government like to call ‘temporary accommodation’ – 298 days is not temporary.

I exposed our lives, I exposed the hardships of being a homeless working lone parent.

I exposed the hardships of being a homeless child.

8. There was some serious swag to be bought at Ard Fheis

There were pins, posters, framed photos of the 1916 leaders, t-shirts and Irish Proclamations to be bought - not to mention these 'Rising' mugs.

Niall Carson Niall Carson

9. Sinn Féin haven't let go of the idea of getting another bank holiday - 24 April.

The party want 24 April, the actual date of the 1916 Easter Rising – which is also incidentally Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s birthday – a national public holiday every year.

They already tried to get it through last year, but the government voted down the motion. It's whole other political ball game one year on, so maybe it will be a case of second-time lucky.

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Gerry Adams: 'We are not Fine Gael or Labour. We are proud of the men and women of 1916'>

Read: Change in SF disciplinary rules to give clear framework of what to do when rules are broken>