Dublin Central: Mary Lou McDonald (SF)

Mary Lou McDonald (55) has been the leader of Sinn Féin since February 2018 and a TD for Dublin Central since 2011.

She succeeded Gerry Adams as leader, who had been at the helm of the party for 34 years.

Originally from south Dublin, she was previously an MEP for Sinn Féin between 2004 and 2009 and also spokesperson for public expenditure and reform and All-Ireland spokesperson for mental health. She was a member of Fianna Fáil in 1998 but left the party after a year due to policy differences.

Ms McDonald has had a tough year personally, after her husband Martin Lanigan was diagnosed with colorectal cancer following her own recovery from a hysterectomy in June 2023. Her father also died in July 2024.

She currently lives in Cabra with her husband and two children and is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and DCU.