page_title: History of Sinn Féin
section_title: Leaders
hierarchical_section_title: History of Sinn Féin / Leaders
caption_attribution_description: Headquarters of Republican Sinn Féin: Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill 223 Parnell Street Dublin 1
context_page_description: Sinn Féin is the name of an Irish political party founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith. It subsequently became a focus for various forms of Irish nationalism, especially Irish republicanism. After the Easter Rising in 1916, it grew in membership, with a reorganisation at its Ard Fheis in 1917. Its split in 1922 in response to the Anglo-Irish Treaty which led to the Irish Civil War and saw the origins of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the two parties which have since dominated Irish politics. Another split in the remaining Sinn Féin organisation in the early years of the Troubles in 1970 led to the Sinn Féin of today, which is a republican, left-wing nationalist and secular party.
context_section_description: Edward Martyn (1905–1908)
  John Sweetman (1908–1911)
  Arthur Griffith (1911–1917)
  Éamon de Valera (1917–1926)
  In 1923, a substantial portion of the membership became Cumann na nGaedheal
  In 1926, de Valera resigned from Sinn Féin and established Fianna Fáil
  John J. O'Kelly (Sceilg) (1926–1931)
  Brian O'Higgins (1931–1933)
  Fr. Michael O'Flanagan (1933–1935)
  Cathal Ó Murchadha (1935–1937)
  Margaret Buckley (1937–1950)
  Paddy McLogan (1950–1952)
  Tomás Ó Dubhghaill (1952–1954)
  Paddy McLogan (1954–1962)
  Tomás Mac Giolla (1962–1970)
  In 1970, there was a split within the party, the resultant parties being referred to as
  Sinn Féin (Gardiner Place)  also referred to by the media as Official Sinn Féin. Led by Tomás Mac Giolla. The party renamed itself Sinn Féin the Workers Party (1977), and later the Workers' Party of Ireland (1982).
  Sinn Féin (Kevin Street), also referred to by the media as Provisional Sinn Féin. By 1983 it was generally known simply as Sinn Féin. Despite the dropping of the word 'provisional' at a convention of the IRA Army Council in September 1970, and becoming the dominant group, they were still known, "to the mild irritation of senior members", as Provisionals, Provos or Provies.
  Ruairí Ó Brádaigh (1970–1983)
  In 1986, Ó Brádaigh left and established Republican Sinn Féin.
  Gerry Adams (1983–2018)
  Mary Lou McDonald (2018–present)
caption: Headquarters of Republican Sinn Féin: Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin
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