Sinn Fein Is Changing Its Grim Face, To Be Replaced By A Smiling Woman

The prospect for a radical shift within IRA seems imminent. 

Following the death of Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams, the number 2 of the powerful and resilient organisation that defined the course of the violent political battle between the unionists and the loyalists in Northern Ireland for decades, announced last November that he intended to step down from the leadership, leaving the ground open for a surprise successor.

It is 48-year-old Mary Lou McDonald who will formally take over on February 10.

Unlike the two controversial senior IRA figures, McDonald is an 'outsider', not as involved as these two in the bloody conflict that killed thousands of people from both sides.

So far, the new leader-in-waiting is playing it cautiously. Addressing a special party conference Saturday, McDonald reaffirmed Sinn Féin’s commitment to a united Ireland and offered a broad statement of her priorities: “Uniting this island is the best outcome for all our citizens and it is now our task to convince our [British] unionist friends and neighbors of that and to encourage them to help us build a new Ireland.”

McDonald is not a typical left-wing Sinn Féin figure. Unlike many of the party's members who are of working class, she was raised in middle class milieu and earlier she campaigned for the center-right Fianna Fáil, but quit when she realized that it didn't respond to her ideals on a united Ireland. After joining Sinn Fein, she remained staunchly loyal to Adams.

''She is gutsy and straightforward and upfront and they are qualities which stand to help one in any environment, but in a male political environment she sure uses them and needs them” — Former Fianna Fáil deputy leader Mary O’Rourke.

Her challenges will be high. And some see her with a great deal of sceptcism.

“… Many friends have correctly said to me that I have big shoes to fill, but the truth is no one will ever fill Gerry Adams’ shoes ..."

She will find out soon if the party is prepared to accept her line and walk a different path.