Republican originsThe new First Minister was born south of the border in County Cork, but her family roots are in Northern Ireland, in County Tyrone. Brendan Doris stood as a Sinn Féin councillor in 1989 and was duly elected to Dungannon Council. Ms O'Neill, it should be stressed, has never had any direct involvement with the IRA. Ms O'Neill attended the coronation of King Charles, and broke with convention by using the term Northern Ireland in her acceptance speech. Unionists will hope Ms O'Neill is the last republican First Minister of Northern Ireland - she'll hope she's simply the last First Minister.

Source: The Herald February 08, 2024 01:30 UTC