Shift to the left The split in the Irish Republican Army, soon followed by a parallel split in Sinn Féin, was the result of the dissatisfaction of more traditional and militant republicans at the political direction taken by the leadership. The particular object of their discontent was Sinn Féin's ending of its policy of abstentionism in the Republic of Ireland. This issue is a key one in republican ideology, as traditional republicans regarded the Irish state as illegitimate and maintained that their loyalty was due only to the Irish Republic declared in 1916 and in their view, represented by the IRA Army Council.The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers Party, Brian Hanley and Scott Millar,
shift to the left the split in the irish republican army soon followed by a parallel split in sinn féin was the result of the dissatisfaction of more traditional and militant republicans at the political direction taken by the leadership the particular object of their discontent was sinn féin's ending of its policy of abstentionism in the republic of ireland this issue is a key one in republican ideology as traditional republicans regarded the irish state as illegitimate and maintained that their loyalty was due only to the irish republic declared in 1916 and in their view represented by the ira army councilthe lost revolution the story of the official ira and the workers party brian hanley and scott millar