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

Nothing is impossible in struggle - Kelly

Published: 6 March, 2010

Our struggle has gone through many phases and twists and turns within phases.

Our history is one of occupation and oppression going back many centuries.

This long phase of our struggle which included almost three decades and more of armed conflict means that at least 2 generations of people living in Ireland know the huge personal cost of fighting for freedom and independence.

Because of that history, Sinn Fein is an internationalist party.

We understand the suffering going on in conflicts throughout the globe.

When we were in need during the conflict in Ireland and indeed during the peace process and the ongoing political process, fellow internationalists came and continued to come to our aid.

To offer advice and practical help.

Those peoples who suffer from oppression throughout the world understand the suffering of others in a similar situation.

It is one of the great truths of freedom fighters that they always, even in the midst of the worst turmoil in their own countries or in their personal lives - dig deeper and find time to give to other comrades and communities who need help.

So let me, on behalf of all Irish republican activists, give all those people who have helped in our struggle a massive thank you. In helping us in whatever way you have - and there were many different ways you became part of our struggle.

In turn, I hope that whatever help we gave to your fight for freedom and independence can in some small way be of assistance.

We have had activists travel to many conflict areas including the Basque Country, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Cyprus and the Phillipines.

Not because we have the answers or that our negotiation process can be neatly set on top of any other struggle but because we have a story to tell about Ireland and Britain and if there is anything in that telling which helps others in their search then the telling is worth it.

But let me finish with this; for decades and indeed centuries those who simply wanted to crush republicanism or to demoralise the Irish kept saying " the Irish problem was intractable".

It was a British mantra internationally.

So two things:

Firstly, it wasn't an Irish problem, it is a British problem in Ireland.

Secondly and most importantly, to all those out there, fighting for justice, freedom and equality - there are no intractable problems and nothing is impossible in struggle.

You're all very welcome here. Thank you for giving of your time and I hope our Ard Fheis will be of interest and value for you all.