Mary Lou McDonald dismisses leadership speculation at Ard Fheis

By Claudia Savage, Press Association

Mary Lou McDonald has pledged she will lead Sinn Féin into the next general election, saying she has the confidence of party colleagues and membership.

Ahead of the second day of their Ard Fheis in Belfast, the current Sinn Féin president said the party has “great pep in our step” and is “at its strongest” since the partition of Ireland in 1921.

McDonald has led the party since 2018, taking over the reins from Gerry Adams.

Speaking to the media outside the ICC, flagged by party colleagues from both sides of the border including the First Minister Michelle O’Neill, McDonald sought to pour cold water on reports of desire for a change of leader.

“Sinn Féin is at its strongest point since partition, there is a great pep in our step,” she said.

“We have built since the last general election. We’re ahead with the polls. That’s always a good place to be.

“We were instrumental in the election of Uachtaran Catherine Connolly, that was a huge achievement for us as an organisation.

“And of course, we are working hard preparing with our eye on the next general election in the next number of years. I want us to be ready. I want us to peak at the right point.”

The party is contesting two by-elections, one in Galway West, and the other in McDonald’s home constituency of Dublin Central.

The Sinn Féin candidate for Dublin Central is Janice Boylan, a councillor who failed to get elected as Ms McDonald’s running mate in the 2024 election.

McDonald said “far from feeling any pressure” she is “looking forward” to the by-elections.

“We’re a strong party, we’re ahead, as I say we lead the polls, and we’re in a very, very strong position, so we go out and we fight those elections in that spirit,” she said

“And I’m very proud to lead this party. I’m very proud to enjoy the confidence of my colleagues and the broader membership. So as you may try to seek a story in that, there isn’t a story there.

“I’m the leader of the party, we are a collective leadership, and we are in a very, very good place.

“So we’ll fight the by-elections, and I think they’re going to be fascinating contests, actually, in both constituencies. I think it’ll be a brave person who would predict the outcomes of them.”

Asked directly if she would lead Sinn Féin into the next general election she said: “Yes.”