Mary Lou McDonald tells Sinn Féin ard fheis Ireland is on cusp of ...

John Manley Political Correspondent in Athlone

12 November, 2023 11:14

Mary Lou McDonald has said Ireland is in a “time of generational change” with Sinn Féin poised to be largest party at Stormont and in the Dáil.

The Sinn Féin leader told the party’s ard fheis in Athlone that the forthcoming Westminster election, coupled with a series of polls in the Republic, “provide the opportunity to choose change ­­­- to make history”.

She told up to 1,200 delegates it was 18 months since her deputy Michelle O’Neill emerged from the assembly election as first minister.

Ms McDonald said the Mid Ulster MLA was “ready to lead for all” but that the north had been left “without government”. 

“People’s patience has run out ­­­- the DUP must end its boycott of government,” she said.

“The British government must stop endlessly indulging this boycott. This can't go on and on.”

The Sinn Féin leader said people wanted the institutions restored without delay. 

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“So let’s choose progress, let’s work together to create jobs, to improve health and public services, to attract investment,” she said.

“Let’s get the A5 upgraded; let’s rebuild Casement Park and enjoy the opportunity and excitement of Euro 2028 together.”

She highlighted Sinn Féin’s position as the largest party in the assembly and in the north’s councils, and that its ambition was to lead government in the south.

Ms McDonald said there was a “clear choice” in the Republic’s forthcoming general election “between the jaded politics of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael or a government for change led by Sinn Féin”.

She noted how it was 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, an accord she described as “testament that even the most intractable of conflicts can be resolved”.

“That generation wrote Ireland’s chapter of peace, now our generation must write the chapter of unity ­- to build a new Ireland,” she said.

The Sinn Féin president said the Dublin government “must plan for democratic constitutional change”.

“That means a citizens’ assembly on unity,” she said.

“The day is coming when everyone on this island will have their say in referendums.

“Each vote counting equally, no vetoes, no shifting of the goal posts.”

She said Sinn Féin wanted to build a new Ireland, what the Dublin Central TD termed a “nation home for all”.

“A unified nation of confidence and compassion, talent and ingenuity, claiming our future, our rightful place among the nations of the world,” she said.

“A new Ireland; the orange and green reconciled; no place for racism, islamophobia, antisemitism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or sectarianism.”

Turning to the continuing hostilities in Gaza, Ms McDonald said the Palestinian people had a right to their homeland.

“Having endured generations of dispossession, occupation, oppression, apartheid, human rights violations that should shake humanity - tonight, hell rains down on Gaza,” she said.

She dismissed Israeli claims that it was acting in self-defence.

“Carpet bombing civilians, collective punishment, massacring children in their thousands is not defence,” she said.

“These are not justifiable responses to the horrific attack by Hamas’ on October 7. The world sees Israeli actions for what they are: barbaric, hateful, cowardly.”