CAOIMHGHIN O Caolain, the first elected Sinn Fein member who is prepared to take his seat in the Dail, is emerging as one of the dominant figures in the political wing of Provisional republicanism. Mr O Caolain has been a full time political and community activist in Monaghan since leaving a bank career in 1985. On his election on Saturday, he was joined by Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, the two other political leaders of the republican movement and both recently elected MPs in Northern Ireland.
The three have established the strongest political leadership of the Provisional movement since its formation 26 years ago. They were ecstatically greeted by Mr O Caolain's supporters outside the count in Cootehill Comprehensive School. Several hundred people, bedecked in Tricolours, gathered outside the school to hear speeches from the three men after Mr O Caolain topped the poll in Cavan Monaghan and was elected on the first count.
He received 11,531 first preference votes, 1,606 over the quota. It was a further five hours and five counts before the first of the remaining two Fianna Fail and two Fine Gael TDs for Cavan Monaghan were elected on Saturday. Mr O Caolain more than doubled his previous best result in the constituency of 4,849 votes in the 1989 election.
In 1992, before the Northern peace process began, his vote dropped to 4,197.
Sinn Fein electoral workers said its vote was substantially increased by support in the poorhousing estates surrounding the local towns and particularly by an upsurge in support, among young voters: "Others said Sinn Fein specifically targeted the young vote in the constituency. One Fine Gael worker, bemoaning the Sinn Fein vote, said it was a sad thing that the young people have done here but that's democracy".
The Sinn Fein vote was particularly galling to gardai as the count came on the first anniversary of the murder of their colleague, Jerry McCabe, who was shot dead by the IRA in Limerick. One local officer described the vote as "a terrible shame".
Mr O Caolain said he had been entirely confident of topping the poll. He said the party had local authority representatives. The abolition of Section 31 has been very important. As a result it was possible for us to put forward our position on issues to an electorate whose informed opinion gave us a resounding victory in Cootehill. People in the past have not had an opportunity to hear us. Sinn Fein is a vibrant and "Important political force in Cavan Monaghan." Referring to the nationwide increase in the party's vote, Mr O Caolain said. In the broader context there is clearly an acceptance of the central role - Sinn Fe, in has played in the continuous inclusive peace process.
He was non committal about what demands he might make, in the event of Fianna Fail seeking his support. He said Sinn Fein will make its decision in relation to the final outcome of the results in all 41 constituencies and I myself or with others will act on the advice of our national executive, the ardchomhairle of the party.
He also said the vote was a message to republican prisoners and he had received a "call from our comrades in Long Kesh". The party was committed to working until "the gates of the prisons are thrown open and our brothers and sisters are hoe and free".
Mr O Caolain will be the first Sinn Fein member free under party rules to take a seat in the Dail. It's abstentionist policy, was dropped at its 1986 ardfheis. Married with four young daughters, he represents a strain of traditional republicanism. He refused to sign supporters Tricolours saying he had too much respect for the national flag.
. The impressive performance by Sinn Fein's Martin Ferris, who polled 5,691 first preferences, caused surprise in the otherwise predictable North Kerry constituency, where Dick Spring topped the poll, writes Michael O'Regan from Tralee.
Mr Ferris, who served a 10 year sentence in Portlaoise for his part in the abortive IRA Marita Ann gunrunning incident, put his high vote down to a strong campaign and involvement in community issues.
Mr Ferris who lives with his wife and six children in a local authority house in Ardfert, described himself as a full time Sinn Fein activist. Asked if he could see himself involved in an incident similar to Marita Ann in the future, he replied: "Nobody can predict, in absolute terms, what one will do in the future".
Asked it he condemned IRA violence, Mr Ferris said. Condemnation is not going to get us, anywhere. What want to do is to work towards creating the conditions whereby there will be no violence. It is my earnest hope that nobody else has to die, but I am realistic enough to know there is a war on and it is probably inevitable that some people will.