Sinn Féin's vice-president Michelle O'Neill has seen off the challenge of John O'Dowd and has retained her post. Sinn Féin party members met this weekend in Derry for their Ard Fheis and much attention has been on the unusual challenge to her position. However, careful party choreography was on evidence to allow Ms O'Neill to maintain a very visible presence at the Ard Fheis. Speaking in the wake of the ballot, Ms O'Neill said: “I am really honoured to have been endorsed by the membership of Sinn Féin and re-elected to the position of Leas-Uachtarán. Previously, Michelle Gildernew, MP for Fermanagh, publicly backed Mr O’Dowd and Kathleen Funchion, TD for Carlow and Kilkenny, confirmed she was be backing Ms O’Neill.

Source: Irish Examiner November 16, 2019 18:11 UTC