Republican News · Thursday 1 November 2001

A time for confidence

As many republicans are still reeling at the scale of the IRA's initiative to advance the peace process, it is worth reminding one other where we are today.

As Martin McGuinness pointed out this week, there are probably more republicans in Ireland today than there have been since partition. Sinn Féin is winning the battle for hearts and minds on both sides of the border.

In the North, the party has had a tremendous year, overtaking the SDLP as the largest nationalist/republican party and scoring spectacular advances in the Westminster and local elections.

In the South, the party's role in persuading the electorate to reject the Nice Treaty should not be underestimated and Sinn Féin candidates stand poised to increase the party's numbers in Leinster House in the forthcoming general election. Party workers have been itching for that battle for months. This week's positive TG4 poll findings for Martin Ferris in North Kerry are a useful pointer.

Young people are rushing to join Sinn Féin at a time when the establishment parties are struggling to recruit new members.

A look at the pages of the Sunday Independent and other anti-republican organs is also salutary for republicans. The vitriol may be the same, but make no mistake - these people are on the run. Republicans have made a connection with ordinary people across the island of Ireland. These people know who is driving the peace process. They know that Sinn Féin offers a radical alternative to the establishments North and South, and that this alternative is an All-Ireland one.

It is no coincidence that the only political leaders who were cheered at the recent state funerals of Kevin Barry and his nine comrades were the Sinn Féin representatives in attendance.

The IRA has not acted in a vacuum. Republicanism is stronger now than ever. We remain united in struggle because of what we have been through, because of trust in our politics, in ourselves and in each other.

We remain confident that a united Ireland based on justice and equality will be a reality. More and more people, from Belfast to Cork, are recognising that Sinn Féin does offer an alternative to the Mercs and perks brigade, that republicans are principled political activists who get things done.

Yes, there will be more obstacles put in the way of progress by our enemies. We have seen that already over this past week. But never have republicans been better prepared to meet that challenge.

We are the risen people and our day is coming.