Martin McGuinness (left) and Gerry Adams. They should stand down from the party, says O’Connor
CONTROVERSIAL singer Sinead O’Connor has joined Sinn Féin, saying the party is the only one on the island standing up for ordinary people.
Then she immediately called on Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams to quit the party!
And last night the party responded by saying she would be welcome to vote at the party’s Ard Fheis on the matter.
Writing in her blog, O’Connor said she wanted to join the party “just as a regular punter” because she wanted to see a “proper socialist Ireland”.
However, in a Facebook post on Monday night, she also called for the Sinn Féin leadership to step down.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said the party welcomed her membership application and that it was currently being processed.
O’Connor achieved worldwide fame in 1990 with the song Nothing Compares 2 U, written by Prince.
She has often courted international controversy over her outspoken political and religious views.
The pop star currently writes a regular blog on her website, entitled Sinead’s musings.
In recent weeks, her posts have focused on the controversial introduction of domestic water charges in the Republic of Ireland and the legacy of the 1916 Easter Rising.
In her latest blog entry, entitled Strange Week, she wrote: “I’m joining Sinn Féin now. If they’ll have me.
“Just as a regular punter who wants to learn and contribute with whatever strengths I might have or learn. I’d like to see a proper socialist Ireland.”
She also said that she has “never voted” in an election in her life.
O’Connor said she “might not even be the kind of person they [Sinn Féin] want”.
She added: “I feel the elders of Sinn Féin are going to have to make ‘the supreme sacrifice’ and step down shortly in the same way the last Pope did.”
She said the party should be run by people born in the 1980s.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “We look forward to working with Sinead as part of Sinn Féin delivering change in communities across Ireland.
“The membership of the party selects the Sinn Féin leadership every year at our Ard Fheis.
“As a member, Sinead would have an equal say in that process.”
Tags: