an Irish political party. It was established in 1902 with the aim of making Ireland independent. Many of its members left to join Fianna Fáil when it was formed in 1926. Those who stayed in Sinn Fein continued to support the idea that Northern Ireland should become part of the Republic of Ireland . Sinn Fein has been criticized for being connected to the IRA, and some of its members were put in prison in Northern Ireland, or refused permission to enter Britain. In the 1990s Sinn Fein was one of the groups responsible for the IRA ceasefire (= a period during which there is no fighting) and the peace discussions between the governments involved. The name means ‘we ourselves’ in Irish Gaelic .
See also Adams .