Michelle O'Neill's Ard Fheis address was far more than a celebration of an historic victory

First Minister Michelle O'Neill gives her keynote speech at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis on Friday night (Image: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) As Michelle O’Neill addressed the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis for the first time since she was appointed First Minister earlier this year, she did so with a sense of triumph. In a political landscape once dominated by unionist power, O’Neill’s appointment marked a seismic shift, not just for her party, but for the island of Ireland itself. Taking on the role, as she rightly said, was a tangible reflection of how far Northern Ireland has come from its turbulent past.

For many, the very idea of an Irish nationalist First Minister would have been unimaginable just a generation ago. Today, it is a reality. Yet, her keynote address was far more than a celebration of a historic victory and instead, it was one that acknowledges the gravity of the challenges still facing Northern Ireland.



The return of power-sharing, which seemed "remote, if not hopeless" just a year ago, has also presented its challenges for the party. With Michelle O’Neill as First Minister and Sinn Féin holding key portfolios including Economy and Finance, the party has the tools to drive the agenda in ways that can deeply reshape Northern Ireland’s social and economic landscape. However, with constrained finances and an unwillingness from the new British Government to provide the Executive with the extra cash it desperately needs to reverse the damage done after years of no government, it is a risk that could blow up in the party's face once they have to make the tough decisions which come with governing and as Secretary of State Hilary Benn put it, "living within their means".

Read more: "Unionism is progressive, is modern and is visionary"-Robbie Butler says UUP have 'quite ambitious plans for electoral success' Read more: United Ireland poll could be run with two-stage referendum process, Leo Varadkar says Michelle O'Neill’s speech articulated a vision for the future which focused on economic fairness, regional balance, and social justice. Her emphasis on fair pay for public sector workers and affordable childcare highlights Sinn Féin’s commitment to bread-and-butter issues that resonate with their voters. These have been key policy aims since day one of the return of the Assembly and Executive, not just for Sinn Féin but for all of the Executive parties and they are tangible goals that, if achieved, could significantly improve the lives of ordinary people.

However, the speech, much like Gavin Robinson's at last week's DUP Conference, did not shy away from holding the British Government's feet to the fire. O'Neill’s rebuke of London’s austerity measures and the financial limitations imposed on the devolved government cuts to the core of the reality that Executive Ministers have found themselves in since taking on their portfolios back in February. As Michelle O'Neill pointed out, Northern Ireland’s potential is being stifled by Westminster’s failure to invest in critical areas, from regional development to public services.

The implicit message was clear and that was that full control over Northern Ireland’s destiny should rest not in London, but in Belfast, and eventually, Dublin. It’s a calculated narrative, framing Sinn Féin’s leadership as forward-looking while casting the British government as obstructionist. It’s her vision for a united Ireland that is at the heart of her speech.

While the idea of Irish unity is her party's raison d'etre, O’Neill ’s framing of it is more inclusive and pragmatic than ever before. She speaks not just to republicans, but to all communities which was in keeping with her framing as 'First Minister for All' which has been at the heart of the party's messaging in recent years. During her speech, she spoke of her visit to unionist heartlands such as the Shankill Road in an acknowledgement that the future of Northern Ireland must be built on inclusion and respect for all identities.

It is a smart move that positions Sinn Féin as a party not just of Irish nationalism, but of governance and one that will aim to show the electorate in the South that they are ready to govern in the Oireachtas. What is clear from O'Neill's speech is that Sinn Féin sees itself not just as a political party, but as a movement for systemic change across the island of Ireland. The upcoming General Election in the South, in O’Neill’s words, will be another opportunity to “seize the opportunities that lie ahead” and to further cement Sinn Féin’s position as the dominant force in Irish politics.

The party's success in local government in Northern Ireland, the Assembly, and Westminster is a harbinger of greater ambitions; ambitions that increasingly look within reach. Her message was clear: Sinn Féin is here to stay, and they are ready to lead. The party has positioned itself as the driving force behind a new era of governance in Northern Ireland , one that prioritises equality, economic justice, and Irish unity.

For unionists, this is likely a sobering reality; for republicans, it is a long-awaited triumph. What is certain is that Michelle O’Neill’s tenure as First Minister will be one of the most consequential in Northern Ireland’s history. The question now is whether Sinn Féin can translate this momentum into lasting change and, ultimately, into the united Ireland it has long envisioned.

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