Leader of Sinn Féin

Background

The post of the President of Sinn Féin was officially created in 1905 when Arthur Griffith founded the party. Edward Martyn, a cultural activist and playwright was selected as the first president at its first annual Ard Fheis on the 28 November 1905. Unlike other Irish political parties, most notably Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, the President of Sinn Féin does not have the power to dismiss or appoint their deputy and to dismiss or appoint parliamentary party members to front bench positions. These decisions are taken by the Ard Chomhairle (National Executive).

In the Northern Ireland Assembly, Sinn Féin is in government under a power-sharing agreement with the Alliance Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Social Democratic and Labour Party and the Ulster Unionist Party. The President of Sinn Féin does not act as the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, If the President is not a member of the Assembly, then an MLA of the party is appointed as Leader in the North to replace him or her.

Until 2010, Sinn Féin did not have enough TDs to qualify for group speaking rights in Dáil Éireann. If the President is not a member of Dáil Éireann, then a TD is appointed in his or her place to act as the leader of the parliamentary party. Since 2011, the President of Sinn Féin has served as the Second Leader of the Opposition and chairs the second opposition front bench.

Two of the fourteen leaders of Sinn Féin have been elected to a public office while serving as leader. Éamon de Valera was elected as an MP in the House of Commons and a TD in Dáil Éireann. However, he did not take his seat in either legislature as per party policy. De Valera’s predecessor, Arthur Griffith helped increase party support following the 1916 Easter Rising. When the party split due to the Anglo-Irish Treaty, both De Valera and Griffith joined opposing sides with De Valera leading the Anti-Treaty faction, while Griffith joined the Pro-Treaty faction, which later became Cumann na nGaedheal. De Valera’ successor John J. O'Kelly was one of four leaders who served for brief periods of time as Sinn Féin’s party membership declined in favour of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

In 1937, Margaret Buckley became the first female President of Sinn Féin. During her thirteen years as leader, she vastly improved the relations between the IRA and the party. She was succeeded by Paddy McLogan and Tomás Ó Dubhghaill who both helped rebuild party support in the aftermath of World War II. Tomás Mac Giolla became president in 1962 and served for over eight years as leader of the party. When the party split, Mac Giolla remained leader of Official Sinn Féin. Official Sinn Féin was later renamed the Workers' Party. Ruairí Ó Brádaigh was elected as the new leader of the Provisional Sinn Féin in 1970. Ó Brádaigh's presidency was shaped by relentless violence between republican and loyalist paramilitaries and the British security forces. He was one of the republican representatives which met with the British representatives in hope of ending the Troubles.

Ó Brádaigh's resigned in 1983, due to dissatisfaction among party activists in Northern Ireland. Vice President Gerry Adams became the fourteenth President of the party in 1983. He is currently the longest serving president in the party’s history. During his presidency, the IRA declared a ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement was signed. Party support rose as Sinn Féin became the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland. In 2011, Gerry Adams left the Northern Ireland Assembly and won a seat in Dáil Éireann. He is the first president since 1926 to also sit in Dáil Éireann. On January 23rd 2017, Michelle O'Neill was selected as the leader of Sinn Fein in the North, replacing Martin McGuinness.

Vice Presidents

The Deputy leader of Sinn Féin is usually a senior politician within Sinn Féin.

Unlike other political party leaders, the leader of Sinn Féin does not have the power to appoint or dismiss their deputy. The position is elected by members of the party at the Ardfheis. The Vice-President has a seat on the Ard Chomhairle (National Executive) Officer Board.

1983–present

Following the election of Gerry Adams as the 14th President of Sinn Féin, the position of co-vice presidents was removed. Instead, a single vice-president was elected at the 1983 Ard Fheis to serve in place of the two former vice-presidents.

Electoral history

Note: Only includes elections contested by persons who were President of Sinn Féin at time of contesting election.