Des Dalton
Des Dalton is an Irish political activist. He was the president of Republican Sinn Féin from 2009 until 10 November 2018. Previously a member of Ógra Fianna Fáil, he joined RSF aged 18 and has been a member of the RSF Ard Comhairle for over a decade. He ran in the town council elections in 2004 and 2009 in his hometown of Athy, County Kildare. On neither occasion did he win a seat.
In 1998, Dalton spoke at Maynooth University in a debate about constitutional nationalism. Garret FitzGerald, former Taoiseach, spoke against him. Dalton remarked that constitutional nationalism was repeatedly "slapped in the face" by Great Britain.
In July 2011, Dalton was arrested in Lurgan, County Armagh, in relation to an illegal parade, protesting against the imprisonment of Martin Corey. He was subsequently charged.
He is a brother of former Kildare County Councillor Mark Dalton.
