Summary

  • Sinn Féin is holding its annual ard fheis (annual conference) in Belfast

  • On Friday, Sinn Féin vice-president and First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the union of the United Kingdom is "cracking at the seams"

Media caption,

Sinn Féin Ard Fheis: Leader's speech

  1. Goodbye and thank you for joiningpublished at 19:00 BST 25 April

    That's all from us. Thank you for following our live coverage of Mary Lou McDonald's presidential address to the Sinn Féin ard fheis.

  2. Irish people 'serve neither King nor Kaiser' - McDonaldpublished at 18:53 BST 25 April

    McDonald praises the Republic of Ireland's neutrality as the country's "strength", describing it as "rooted in the history of our nation".

    "Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are hellbent on dismantling it. On scrapping the Triple Lock.

    "Opening the gates to send Ireland’s sons and daughters to fight colonial wars."

    She adds that the people of Ireland "serve neither King nor Kaiser but Ireland".

    "So, Micheál Martin and Simon Harris, I challenge you to put your plan to scrap the Triple Lock to the people. You’ll get your answer – hands off Ireland’s neutrality."

  3. McDonald: British gov plans to 'pander to military lobby unacceptable'published at 18:50 BST 25 April

    Mary Lou McDonald highlights two of her party's flagship projects in Northern Ireland - Casement Park and the A5 road upgrade.

    "Casement Park will be built. The diggers are on-site. The A5 will save lives. Stopping this road is not acceptable."

    The Sinn Féin leader adds that "we have to deal with the past".

    "British government plans to pander to their military lobby are unacceptable and doomed to fail.

    "There must be a public inquiry into the murder of Seán Brown."

  4. McDonald outlines benefits of a united Irelandpublished at 18:48 BST 25 April

    McDonald suggests a united Ireland would act as a "vehicle" for a "dynamic all-island economy, energy independence, [and] climate justice".

    The Sinn Féin leader also cites "a fully resourced health service", "world class education" and "affordable childcare" as potential benefits of a united Ireland.

    McDonald adds that nationalists "respect and value Protestant, Unionist, Loyalist people".

    "This is your home. And we want to build Ireland’s future with you - to work constructively together. The leadership of Unionism must work also for progress.

    "Divisive, rejectionist, sectarian politics must be consigned to history. It has no place in our future."

  5. 'Westminster doesn’t give a damn' about Northern Irelandpublished at 18:46 BST 25 April

    Addressing delegates on the topic of affordability, Mary Lou McDonald says "the British government has no interest in funding services or supporting families" in Northern Ireland.

    "They refuse to cut tax on fuel," she says.

    McDonald adds that "Westminster doesn’t give a damn about the north of Ireland".

    "That’s why decisions that affect the lives of people who live here must be made here – in Ireland."

  6. 'Crossroads of history' - McDonaldpublished at 18:45 BST 25 April

    McDonald says that people today "stand at the crossroads of history", describing "two Irelands".

    "A partitioned Ireland – of failed politics, self-serving governments, deep-rooted unfairness. Or a better, stronger united Ireland.

    "Where people come first. Where workers and families get your fair share. That’s the Ireland we want, we need, and our people deserve."

  7. McDonald backs fuel protestspublished at 18:43 BST 25 April

    McDonald cites recent protests against fuel prices that took place across the island of Ireland, saying the Irish government believed they could "buy-off workers".

    "The people who gathered from homes across Ireland, with tractors, trucks and lorries – tools of their livelihoods. Their protest was a backlash against fuel prices.

    "Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael believed they could buy-off workers with half-measures. That they had subdued the ordinary people of Ireland. They were wrong."

    The Sinn Féin President adds: "People stood up. Challenged those in power. And put them on notice that workers and families can’t take anymore."

  8. McDonald: Belfast is a 'brave city'published at 18:42 BST 25 April

    Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald begins her speech with reference to the location of this year's Ard Fheis - Belfast.

    "This is a brave city," she says. "It’s seen its share of heartbreak and loss. But it's the courage of its people, the humour, the resilience that marks this place.

    "We are proud to be in Ireland’s second city – Béal Feirste – Belfast."

  9. Watch the speech livepublished at 18:37 BST 25 April

    You can watch Mary Lou McDonald's speech live by clicking the "watch live" button at the top of the page.

  10. Welcomepublished at 18:04 BST 25 April

    Welcome to our live coverage of president Mary Lou McDonald's speech at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Belfast