Ruairi O Bradaigh

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Since the mid-1950s, Ruairi O Bradaigh has been a pivotal figure in the Irish Republican Movement, uniquely serving as Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army, president of Sinn Fein, and an abstentionist elected to the Dublin parliament. He stands out as a prominent voice for those Irish Republicans who oppose the Northern Ireland peace process, believing it perpetuates partition and conflict rather than achieving true peace. Born to Irish Republican veterans, O Bradaigh has led IRA raids, faced arrests and internment, and endured a hunger strike. He has been a vocal advocate for the Irish Republican cause, facing exclusion from Northern Ireland, Britain, the U.S., and Canada. His involvement in the secret negotiations for a bilateral IRA-British truce provides valuable insights into the 1975 truce, the IRA ceasefires of the 1990s, and the ongoing peace process. A steadfast defender of the traditional Republican stance against participating in the parliaments of Dublin, Belfast, and Westminster, O Bradaigh opposed Sinn Fein's recognition of these institutions in 1970, leading to the formation of Provisional Sinn Fein. He served as its president until 1983, when he was succeeded by Gerry Adams, who later recognized the Dublin parliament in 1986. O Bradaigh then led another walkout and became president of Republican Sinn Fein, a role he continues to hold today.