Magill Diary - North and South

THE TUMULT AND THE shouting had died, the television lights had been turned off, the journalists had gone back to their papers to write their stories. In other words, it was Sunday afternoon at me Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, Gerry Adams' speech had cherished and there was nothing left to listen to or write about.  By Colm Toibin.

Observers had come to the Ard Fheis from various parts of the world: Corsica, the Basque country, Brittany. It "as their turn to speak. Tiley said what they were expected to say and everyyone applauded. This was just orer when there was an announcement that Ruairi O Bradaigh was going to return to the microphone he had spoken on Saturday night - to make a speech thanking Gerry Adams.

Magill has confirmed that neither Adams nor any of the new leadership had any idea what 0 Bradaigh was going to say: nor did they know that Sean 0 Bradaigh, Ruairi O Bradaigh's brother, had personally made copies of his speech snd was handing them out to the few journalists left.

There was silence in the hall as O Bradaigh began:

"My departure from the office of President of Sinn Fein became inevitable with the defeat in 1981 by a simple majority of the Eire Nua policy of a new Four Province Federal Ireland with maximum decentralisation of power and decision-making within a Socialist Democratic Republic. In 1982, by a two-thirds majority, all references to that policy were deleted from the Constitution of Sinn Fein.

As one who had been closely and personally identified with that policy for ten years, my position as Presiident in the face of a repeated defeat on a major policy had become untenable ...

"Then during the past year I was defeated in Ardairle sub-committees and on the Ard-Chomhairle itself on important policy questions. I opposed Sinn Fein candiidates participating in the EEC Assembly if elected next year. I also opposed a commitment in principle. to contesting all parliamentary elections in the 26 Counties whether the time was opportune from a Repubblican viewpoint or not. On these two questions I was beaten. My paper on the effects on our political straategy in the 26 Counties of Sinn Fein's abstention policy was rejected by. the su bbcommittee in question.

"For these reasons then I have not sought re-election this year. I would emphasise that I consider the public credibility of the office of President and through it of the entire Movement tobe of paramount importance. Such credibility was seriously immpaired with the defeat of poliicies which I wholeheartedly believed in and had publicly espoused over a long period of time ...

"During my 14. years as head of Sinn Fein there were no splits or splinters - long may it remain so, as it will, provided we stick to basic principles ... "

Gerry Adams and the leadership were also not aware that Daithi 0 Conaill intended to speak directly after 0 Bradaigh. 0 Conaill went to the platform:

"I wish to confirm that I will not be standing for elecction to the officer-board or the Ard Chomhairle at this year's Ard-Fheis.

"I feel obliged to state the reasons for this decision which I have reached after long and careful consideraation:

1. It is well known that I was strongly opposed to the dropping of the 'Federal'

aspect of the Eire Nua policy. One year on and I am more convinced than ever that a major mistake was made in the rejection of that part of Sinn Fein policy. We gained nothing as a result of that action; on the conntrary we threw away an origiinal, positive and progressive element of policy which, I believe, will acquire a new and powerful meaning as time goes on.

2. The calculated result of last year's Ard-Fheis resulted in a leadership which, in my view, was not representative or reflective of the organiisation as a whole. I have no reason to believe that it will be different this year and I firmly hold that without reppresentative leadership of a geographical national charac-

ter, the organisation will not develop, in either structural or policy terms, along national lines.

3. As a personal opinion I feel that the editorial policy of An Phoblacht over the last year has been detrimental to the interests of the Movement. The paper has not been seen as the organ of the Moveement as a whole but rather as a platform for the promootion of sectional interests.

4. It became obvious durring the last year that the office of Vice-President was regarded by' some as one of a 'titular' nature. I must say that I did not join the Republican Movement for the purrpose of being a titular-head, figure-head or yes-man. I joined to give what ever bit of talent I have and conntinue to give the value of experience gained over a period of twenty-eight years' service. It was stated to me last January that I had beecome a figure of contention on policy issues. As a result, I withdrew from a certain area of work and I feel now, that withdrawing from the leadership of Sinn Fein is the correct thing to do."

Neither 0 Bradaigh nor O Conaill would expand on these speeches, which as far as we are aware have gone unreported in the Republic up to now. •