In the 1990s Republican Sinn Féin was among the first political organisations in Ireland to have a permanent and professional online presence by launching the national website www.rsf.ie and an online archive of the republican paper Saoirse on www.saoirse.info. Since then the internet became an essential part in the life of most people. To fulfil the requirements of the 21st century Republican Sin Féin decided to develop a new and modern online presence.

Following this decision RSF established a new official Facebook page, a Twitter account and a YouTube account in 2012. Further steps to develop the profile of Irish republicanism on the internet were made by setting up a new international website which is accessible on www.rsf-international.org and a campaign website of the Republican campaign against the EU Austerity Treaty in May 2012.

The next step to polish up the online profile of our organisation and to make the republican voice be heard on a local level in Ireland is the launch of four provincial websites. RSF in the four provinces of Ireland is now available on http://leinster.rsf.ie/, http://ulster.rsf.ie/, http://munster.rsf.ie/ and http://connacht.rsf.ie/. These four provincial websites will provide news and events relevant to each province. All websites are regularly updated and we welcome all readers and our new provincial websites.

As part of its campaign against the 26-County Austerity Treaty Republican Sinn Féin have launched a campaign website:

www.nofiscaltreaty.net

The website provides up to date information on the campaign over the coming weeks.

Traditionell wird in Irland als Erinnerung an die gestorbenen Freiheitskämpferinnen und Freiheitskämpfer vor Ostern eine Lilie aus Papier getragen. Die Farben der Lilie grün, orange und gold sind die Farben Irlands.

Am Osterwochenende wird in über 60 Gedenkveranstaltungen der Republikanischen Bewegung in ganz Irland, England, Schottland und den USA dem Aufstand gegen die britische Kolonialmacht von 1916 gedacht.

Die Einnahmen des Verkaufs der Osterlilien gehen an die ehemaligen und derzeitigen politischen Gefangenen und ihre Familien.

The internet platform Facebook banned the group “Republican Sinn Féin Germany/Austria”, whose administrator is a German activist of the Sinn Féin Poblachtach International Relations Bureau, without warning after less than six months in existence.

The group had been set up to use modern media to spread the message of Irish Republicanism in times of economy crises, bail-out and sectarian attacks. The “wall” of the group was used to publish statements, press releases and events of the political organization Sinn Féin Poblachtach.

In an e-mail to the administrator, dated June 13, 2011, it said the group promotes ideas of “hatred, menace or obscenity”. Furthermore it would be forbidden to set up groups to “attack individuals and groups”.

While sexist, racist and sectarian material is allowed on Facebook and similar websites, democratic voices are systematically attacked. This is not the first case, Irish Republicans see their material deleted and banned from the internet. While this development is regrettable, we are aware – Revolutions are won on the streets, not on the internet.