West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Fein to mark 90th anniversary of First Dail Eireann

Published: 19 January, 2009

An open invitation is extended to republicans from all over Ireland and beyond to gather in the Mansion House in Dublin City Centre on Wednesday, 21 January, the 90th anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the First Dail Eireann.

Sinn Féin is holding a major national event to mark the occasion which will focus on the campaign for Irish Unity and on the continuing relevance of the Democratic Programme of the First Dail.

The historic Round Room is the venue for the event.

At 7pm the main event will begin with a presentation in words and images recalling key events of the First Dáil period. Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald will host the proceedings.

The 1918 General Election was the first in which Irish women had the vote and the only woman elected in Ireland and Britain was Constance Markievicz for Sinn Féin.

She became Minister for Labour in the First Dáil, one of the first women Government ministers in the world. To emphasise the role of women in the struggle special presentations will be made to women elected representatives of Sinn Féin.

The keynote speaker at the main event will be Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams. He is expected to set out in his speech the need for all republicans to re-focus on the goal of Irish reunification as well as the continuing relevance of the First Dáil's Democratic Programme, especially in an economic climate where rights and living standards are under attack.

The First Dáil Éireann - the first democratically elected Irish Parliament - was established after the Irish people overwhelmingly endorsed the demand for independence from Britain in the 1918 election.

The meeting of the First Dáil Éireann is one of those seminal moments in Irish history. It was the democratic desire of the Irish people for freedom and independence taking shape.

The democratic, social and economic programme of the First Dáil Éireann was radical and visionary. They declared that society should be "ruled in accordance with the principles of Liberty, Equality and Justice for all".

But the First Dáil was suppressed by the British government, its proceedings outlawed, its mandate ignored, and Ireland was partitioned by London. Consequently, the commemoration on January 21st will provide an opportunity to refocus attention on the overriding requirement for an end to partition and for a United Ireland.

Transport will be leaving from west Belfast to go to the event in the Mansion House.

If you are interested in attending the anniversary event, please contact Jacqui or Rosena at our Connolly House office on 90 808404 between 10am and 4pm