With their popularity rating at its highest since the beginning of the State, all eyes were on Derry this weekend as the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis took place.
Here are the most important things we learned.
1) Sinn Féin says any sale of Aer Lingus would be a sell-off of our future
Delegates were been told that Ireland will suffer if the sale to Willie Walsh's IAG goes ahead.
Transport spokesperson Dessie Ellis says Mr Walsh "will say anything" to get his hands on the Heathrow slots.
2) The party's deputy leader says Joan Burton has backed out of two live TV debates
Mary Lou McDonald says both RTE and TV3 have arranged head-to-head debates with Joan Burton - but the Tánaiste has 'changed her mind'.
A Labour spokesman has dismissed the claims, saying the two women debate each other every Thursday in the Dáil.
3) Sinn Féin is to campaign in favour of allowing abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality
A motion to ease the current restrictions was passed by a comfortable margin at the party's Ard Fheis in Derry this evening.
Delegates also voted in favour of lifting the 8th Amendment, the current constitutional ban on abortion.
4) Gerry Adams says the party would introduce a wealth tax of seven percent on all income over €100,000
200,000 more would stop paying the USC, the water charges would be abolished and property tax scrapped under a Sinn Féin government, Mr Adams said.
Delegates at the conference. Image: Stephen Kilkenny / Photocall Ireland
5) Sinn Féin will oppose any invitation for a member of the British Royal family to come to Ireland for the 2016 commemorations
The policy was narrowly adopted in Derry on Friday night.
The motion also opposes any invitation to members of the British government.
6) The party president played down reports that the party's American donors have raised concerns about its tax policies
It was reported earlier this week that Irish-American businesses are concerned at the party's policies on taxes and government spending.
But party leader Gerry Adams says he holds similar meetings with groups of all sorts.
7) Mr Adams called for the release of water charge protesters
In his speech, he said "the imposition of an unfair water charge has been the final straw for many families in the south. The huge demonstrations are proof of that."
8) The North's deputy first minister says it is Sinn Féin's ambition to become the largest party on the island by the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising
Martin McGuinness told the gathering that the party doesn't do austerity, others do austerity.
And Mr McGuinness says Sinn Féin is determined to become the biggest party after the general and assembly elections.
9) And on the lighter side, we learned about Gerry Adams' choice of sock
