From 1926 onward, Sinn Féin, which had been instrumental in the revolutionary period of 1919-23, faded into oblivion as a result of its intransigent and doctrinaire stance. This books unravels a chapter of history that has not been dealt with in detail until now, although the operation of the party raises fundamental questions on issues such as democracy and the role of history in the construction of a national narrative. Through a close analysis of newspaper reports, of the fortnightly Standing committee minutes, and through various interviews carried out by the author, it looks at the manner ... More

From 1926 onward, Sinn Féin, which had been instrumental in the revolutionary period of 1919-23, faded into oblivion as a result of its intransigent and doctrinaire stance. This books unravels a chapter of history that has not been dealt with in detail until now, although the operation of the party raises fundamental questions on issues such as democracy and the role of history in the construction of a national narrative. Through a close analysis of newspaper reports, of the fortnightly Standing committee minutes, and through various interviews carried out by the author, it looks at the manner in which Sinn Féin operated and put itself forward as the guardian of republicanism in Ireland. Sinn Féin's strategic journey was a lonesome one, but the party showed sufficient resilience to survive in a context that was made hostile to its very existence by the very nature of the policies and strategies it put forward. The type of political nationalism that it advocated offers a valuable insight into the meaning of Republicanism. Its narrative represents an integral part of the political and social fabric of contemporary Irish society.