Adams: I’ll tiocfaidh it all in
GERRY Adams announced yesterday he is to step down as leader of Sinn Fein some time next year and will not stand for re-election to the Dail again.
The 69-year-old made the historic announcement at the end of his party’s Ard Fheis in the RDS in Dublin last night.
However, he hasn’t gone away completely, as it’s believed he will stay on in an honorary position at the Sinn Fein top table even after he leaves the role of president.
He was re-elected as president of the party just before what effectively amounted to a resignation speech, as party rules require an election for the leader at every Ard Fheis.
A motion was passed yesterday afternoon that will see an emergency Ard Fheis called within three months of Mr Adams formally vacating his role.
He received tumultuous applause from the party faithful after his speech – along with a rendition of the classic ballad Oro Se Do Bheatha Bhaile – with over 3,000 activists coming to Dublin for the party’s largest ever Ard Fheis.
Even though Mr Adams has not formally stood aside yet, the starting gun for the leadership has officially been fired.
The early favourites to succeed Mr Adams are deputy president Mary Lou Mcdonald, Northern leader Michelle O’neill and Pearse Doherty, spokesman on finance, who will be tasked with bringing the party into a new era.
Mr Adams said: “I’m very proud to have served as leader of Sinn Fein since 1983.
“Leadership means knowing when it is time for change, and that time is now, I will not be standing for re-election to the next Dail. This is also my last Ard Fheis as Uachtarain Sinn Fein.” He said he will talk to the Ard Comhairle to arrange a special Ard Fheis next year to select his replacement.
Elsewhere in his speech, Mr Adams criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s “people who get up early in the morning” line. He said Mr Varadkar represented