SF participation in Áras race a ‘game-changer’

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the party’s participation in the Presidential Election campaign will be a “game-changer”.

Sinn Féin has been mulling over its approach to the race for Áras an Úachtaráin, with two options at its disposal – either run its own candidate or back Independent Catherine Connolly’s campaign.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly, Ms McDonald said she already knew the proposal she would be bringing to the party, but that it would not be made public until Saturday.

She said: “I think Sinn Féin’s participation will be a game-changer in this election. It’ll be very much game on.

“The leadership will bring its decision, make it public on Saturday. We’re going to be very active in this very important campaign.”

Ms McDonald said the party had been talking to the Connolly campaign team.

“Have we been talking to Catherine’s campaign? Yes, we’ve been talking to a lot of people including Catherine’s campaign, that has been part and parcel of our deliberations as you can imagine,” she said.

Ms Connolly said earlier this week that she would be delighted if Sinn Féin backed her candidacy.

She currently has the backing of the Social Democrats, Labour, People Before Profit, Solidarity and some Independents.

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty was in attendance at the Ploughing Championships on Tuesday, where he refused to be drawn on whether he would be the party’s choice to run.

He said: “The party has been very clear on how we’re going to make this decision. We’ll make this decision on Saturday.”

“I can tell you one thing about Sinn Féin, we are busting with characters who are fit to run for the president and I’ve no doubt about it,” he added.