Similar to the schism between the Old and Provisional IRA by the close of 1969, its political wing, Sinn Fein, found itself freeing itself from the Southern leadership at their Ard Fheis (party
conference) after a decision was voted on – and passed – to abandon their long held, and firmly entrenched stance on ‘abstentionism’ (i.e. of not taking any seats won in the parliaments
of Dublin, Belfast, and London – none of which the recognised as legal). The minority who left, mirroring the Provisional IRA, became know as the ‘Provisional Sinn Fein’, and despite ideological and political differences, it was the belief that those Republicans in the South has failed to act in defence of their brethren in the North during the 1969 riots.
The Troubles 