Abstentionism is a political strategy used in Ireland since the early 20th century of seeking election to a body while refusing to take up the seats or even sitting in an alternative assembly. Throughout the first 1800 years of church history, Christians considered alcoholic beverages to be a gift of God that makes life more joyous but that must be used in moderation to avoid the sin of drunkenness, and these same Christians used wine in their central rite – the Eucharist. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...

In the United Kingdom and Ireland this has been an often used tactic of republicans and nationalists. Irish Republicanism is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a united independent republic. ... Irish nationalism refers to political movements that desire greater autonomy or the independence of Ireland from Great Britain. ...

In 1918 Sinn Féin MPs nominally elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom refused to sit in that body and instead constituted themselves as Dáil Éireann and claimed to be the legitimate parliament of Ireland. Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Sinn Féin (pronounced in English, in Irish) is a name used by a series of Irish political movements of the 20th century, each of which claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith in 1905. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories. ... The Dáil Chamber Dáil Éireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of Ireland. ... A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ...

In Northern Ireland, the Nationalist party did not take their seats during the first Stormont parliament (1921-25) and did not accept the role of Opposition for another forty years (they became the opposition on 2 February 1965 but withdrew after the events of 5 October 1968). The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) became the Opposition on its formation on 21 August 1970 but that party withdrew from Stormont in July 1971. Since the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly under the Good Friday Agreement, both the SDLP and Sinn Féin have taken their seats in that body. SDLP MPs have consistently taken their seats in the Westminster parliament, in contrast to Sinn Féin MPs who refuse to take their seats there, as they refuse to recognise that body's right to legislate for any part of Ireland. Motto:  (Latin for Who will separate us?)[1] Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official language(s) English (de facto), Ulster Scots, Irish3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of... The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from June 7, 1921 to March 30, 1972, when it was suspended. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (279th in Leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP — Irish: Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is the smaller of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland. ... August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... The Northern Ireland Assembly is a home rule legislature established in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, but currently under suspension. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998 by the British and Irish Governments and endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties. ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ...

In the Irish Free State and the later Republic of Ireland, abstentionism has been a controversial question for republican parties. In 1986, at its Ard Fheis (annual conference), Sinn Féin split on the issue of whether or not to reverse its long-standing policy of refusing to taking seats in Dáil Éireann, a parliament which republicans do not consider legitimate as it does not represent all of the people of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. The split resulted in two parties - Sinn Féin, led by Gerry Adams (sometimes referred to as "Provisional Sinn Féin"), and Republican Sinn Féin, led by Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, which has retained the policy of abstentionism from Dáil Éireann and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Territory of the Irish Free State Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1922–1936 George V  - 1936–1936 George VI President of the Executive Council  - 1922–1932 W.T. Cosgrave  - 1932–1937 Eamon de Valera Legislature Oireachtas  - Upper house Seanad Éireann  - Lower house Dáil Éireann... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An Ard Fheis is an annual convention, usually of a political party. ... The Dáil Chamber Dáil Éireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of Ireland. ... Gerard Adams (Irish Gearóid Mac Ádhaimh[1]; born 6 October 1948) is an Irish Republican politician and abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. ... Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) is a political party[2] operating in Ireland. ... Ruairí Ó Brádaigh Ruairí Ó Brádaigh (born 1932) is an Irish republican. ...

See also

• Irish republican legitimatism