New Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald calls for doubling of party membership

At a special Ard Fheis held in Dublin today and attended by around 1,500 party delegates, Mary Lou McDonald has been formally elected as President of Sinn Féin. Mary Lou McDonald is a TD (a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the Irish Parliament) for Dublin Central. She was the only contender for the position and has been president-elect of the party since the beginning of this year.

Ms McDonald told delegates that she wants to see the number of members of the party double. She also made it clear that Sinn Féin would be working to win elections, stating: "Our purpose is to win. To win elections, to increase our political strength, to realise our ambition of being in government, north and south,"

At today's Ard Fheis Michelle O’Neill has also been formally elected as Vice President of the party. The Member of the Legislative Assembly (Irish: Comhaltaí den Tionól Reachtach) and leader of Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland said the party is ready for Government both north and south. Delegates gave enthusiastic applause when MEP Martina Anderson praised the contribution of Gerry Adams, who stood down from the position of President, to both the party and the peace process.