Jane Matthews reports from Dún Laoghaire

THERE WERE FIGHTING words from Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald this morning as she kicked off her party’s two-day think-in in Dún Laoghaire.

Standing in front of Dún Laoghaire pier and flanked by Sinn Féin’s front bench, a smiling McDonald told reporters:

“We’re going to spend the next two days preparing ourselves for the next Dáil session. We are very clear that our role is to continue to hold Micheál Martin, Simon Harris and, of course, Michael Lowry, the third leg of this failing government, to account.”

In typical Sinn Féin fashion though, the details of what the party will be discussing over the next two days were limited. 

After a brief opportunity to ask questions, members of the media were invited to listen to McDonald’s opening speech in a conference room in the Royal Marine Hotel before being shooed out of the room as party whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn took to the stage. 

“Time for bed, children,” a Sinn Féin official joked as reporters were ushered out. 

Mary Lou McDonald delivering the opening address this morning. Alamy Alamy

There ended the public-facing element of Sinn Féin’s two-day conference, a sharp contrast to the approach taken by other political parties, where members of the media are generally offered more opportunities to mix with party representatives. 

Party officials were not forthcoming with details of much of what Sinn Féin will be up to across today and tomorrow. 

Information they did part with, however, painted a picture of the party’s priorities for the new Dáil term that begins next week, with the cost of living, disability rights, children’s healthcare and education taking centre stage.

This afternoon, the party was addressed by four guest speakers — Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, the parents of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who died this summer after waiting years for scoliosis surgery; teenage disability rights campaigner Cara Darmondy; and Rebecca Meehan, the mother of an autistic child who has been campaigning for appropriate school places for children with disabilities. 

Later this evening, the party will also be addressed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on workers’ rights and the manager of the men’s Kerry GAA team, Jack O’Connor — presumably for a motivational pep talk on winning. 

Former world champion boxer Bernard Dunne is also set to address the party membership, while the party will then meet behind closed doors tomorrow to discuss its plans for the presidential election. 

Parliamentary party members The Journal spoke to today were tight-lipped on just what that approach will be. 

“It could go either way,” was the response from one TD when asked what way they thought the party was leaning on whether to back Independent left-wing TD Catherine Connolly or run their own candidate. 

Generally speaking, party members spoke favourably of Connolly and were not quick to offer any criticism of her. 

“It looks like they’ve gotten more organised in the last few weeks,” was the view of one TD on how Connolly’s campaign has been faring so far. 

A similar message was delivered by party leader Mary Lou McDonald, who very much left the door open to supporting Connolly. 

Notably, though, McDonald also left the door open to running their own candidate. While she was quick this morning to rule herself out, she didn’t offer any particular hints when asked whether the party might run someone else from within its own ranks.

It didn’t go unnoticed that Mayo TD Rose Conway Walsh, whose name has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Sinn Féin, was standing in pride of place beside the party leader as she spoke to the media this morning. 

Rose Conway Walsh was all smiles during today's press conference. Eamonn Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Eamonn Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

“Rose always smiles, Rose is the smiler of this team,” was the response from McDonald when she was asked if Conway Walsh’s smiles throughout the press conference were related to a potential bid for the Áras.

New Dáil, new Sinn Féin?

While the party appears to still be grappling with what it should do for the presidential election, they were much clearer on what their priorities are for the new Dáil term.

McDonald did not hold back in her criticism of the government during her opening address, making clear her party’s demand that three energy credits to the value of €450 are introduced as part of this year’s Budget.

The party was also keen to express its desire to work more with other opposition parties on the left, similar to how it banded together during this year’s speaking rights row. 

Does this begin with backing Connolly’s campaign? We’ll have to wait and see.