[caption id="attachment_70024" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Micheál Martin, pictured here on Tuesday, is looking for an ard fheis boost this weekend. "]
A humbled Fianna Fáil are preparing for their first ard fheis since voters turned against the party during last year's general elections.
The party, which has taken the brunt of the blame for Ireland's on-going economic woes, will be presented with a number of proposals for members to consider this weekend, including crucial changes to their system of voting on party policy.
This is the first ard fheis held by the party in four years, and comes as its members face increasing competition for votes from Sinn Féin.
A poll last weekend suggested 25 percent of the electorate backed Sinn Féin, a rise thought to be in part due to the party's anti-austerity stance, while Fianna Fail support fell four points to just 16 percent.
Party leader Micheál Martin will address the delegates in Dublin's RDS venue for the first time as party boss, and at the launch of the pre-gathering convention, the party's justice spokesman Dara Calleary said: "Any leader's first ard fheis is very important. The members have responded well to him. I think you will see their appreciation of his efforts on Friday and Saturday evening as he lays out his credo."
Calleary also referred to the rising "republican" challenge of Sinn Féin, who share power in the North's Assembly, and claimed his party's own brand of republicanism was more relevant in modern Ireland.
Calleary added: "I think republicanism in Ireland is always centered on the island issue. Republicanism as an ethos is a far wider concept.
Meanwhile, the party is keeping the debate around changes to the vote to select election candidates close to its collective chests and will keep the media and public out of its discussions, as it is "internal party business."
