Sinn Fein may link ardfheis to Easter Rising anniversary

Sinn Féin is considering holding its ardfheis in April, on the eve of commemorations in Dublin to mark the calendar centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

A Sinn Féin source said the party was exploring holding its ardfheis on April 23rd – just a day short of 100 years after the Rising, which took place on Easter Monday, April 24th, 1916.

“April 24th falls this year on a Sunday, and we would be looking at holding the ardfheis on the Saturday, April 23rd, to coincide with the various commemorative events,” said the source.

“We expect that at lot of people will be mobilised to go to Dublin for the actual centenary on April 24th so to it makes sense to look at holding the ardfheis that weekend.”

On Sunday, April 24th, the Reclaim the Vision of 1916 group, chaired by artist Robert Ballagh, is planning a commemoration, "and I would expect that many of our members would like to attend that as well".

The party would hold its own wreath-laying ceremony at the GPO on Sunday, April 24th, he said.

It is understood Sinn Féin has been in touch with RTÉ about broadcasting the ardfheis on April 23rd, but no decision has been taken yet on a venue for the conference.