When journalist Siobhan Fenton was headhunted by Sinn Féin in 2020 she was an outsider.

Entering the party press office in Dublin, she was from Belfast, and didn’t support IRA violence.

At the time Sinn Fein was soaring, with Mary Lou McDonald expected to eventually become Ireland’s first female Taoiseach.

But that hasn’t happened. Instead, the party’s momentum faltered – although it remains the biggest party on the island.

What goes on inside of one of Ireland’s most secretive party, and how is the new generation of Sinn Féin staff changing the party?

After five years working for Sinn Fein, Siobhán Fenton was ruthlessly dumped, learning that she was being ditched through a media report in 2025.

She has released the book ‘Ourselves alone: Sinn Féin behind closed doors’ - and she joined Sam McBride on the BelTel.

The BelTel brings you some of Northern Ireland's top journalists, Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen to name but a few, giving you the inside stories behind what is in the news. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the Bel Tel investigates, debates and informs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.