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Sinn Fein dinner is a sell-out success

Supporters hear Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams' plans for the future at London dinner By Staff Reporter - 18/11/09

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams was host and keynote speaker at the first annual Sinn Fein London dinner at the Crown Moran Hotel in London at the weekend.

Mr Adams welcomed individuals and organizations to the sold-out event, including former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, MPs Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn, actor Adrian Dunbar and Michelin star chef Richard Corrigan.

Sinn Fein Vice President Mary Lou McDonald and Minister Gerry Kelly were also in attendance.

In his address, Gerry Adams paid tribute to the role of London’s Irish community in all aspects of life in the city over many decades, in particular noting the history of the Crown itself, which he described as a landmark for Irish people in the city.

Dedicating his speech to the late Redmond O’Neill, who died recently, the Sinn Fein President went on to describe political progress made and explain the plans for the coming period – notably to put Irish unity on the agenda and encourage a debate in Britain, in the context of the recognition in the Good Friday Agreement of self-determination.

He announced that a major conference will take place at the TUC Congress House on 20 February, and encouraged people present to take part – through whatever avenue or organisation they could.

This message was later reinforced by Ken Livingstone, who also made reference to the immense progress made in recent decades and in the renewed pride of the Irish community in London.

Mary Lou McDonald welcomed the wide representation from the Irish community, including Irish business figures, representative from the worlds of arts and culture, entertainment, the GAA, the Counties Associations and grass-roots groups such as the Agreed Ireland Forum, the Wolfe Tone Society, Labour Party Irish Society, Progressive London and from the Trade Unions.

The night, organised by Friends of Sinn Fein London, has now established the dinner as an important annual event in the social and political calendar.

• For further information about the London conference on 20 February email londonconference@sinn-fein.ie For further photos of the evening, see Page 50