Mary Lou McDonald has that intangible X-factor that few others in politics have and has used all of her considerable skills — including her attractiveness — to climb the ranks of Sinn Féin in a relatively short time. Like Margaret Thatcher she has exploited her gender positively, making herself the obvious choice to succeed Gerry Adams, writes Daniel McConnell

Cast your mind back to 2009, writes Daniel McConnell.

Last Sunday, the great and the good gathered on a cold and breezy O’Connell St for the annual Easter Rising commemoration, writes Daniel McConnell.

The appointment of young Dublin West TD Jack Chambers was the sum total of change to the Fianna Fáil front bench in the reshuffle announced by Micheál Martin on Thursday, writes Daniel McConnell

You should all be ashamed of yourselves. All 32 of you.

What was he thinking?, asks Daniel McConnell.

I am the father of two small kids. There is nothing I would not do for them. I cherish every day I have with them.

Just what is going on?

THE King is dead, long live the Queen, says Daniel McConnell.

He is not a gambler, he is a mathematician. He plots three, four steps ahead. He will not risk a Theresa May calamity on the basis of two or three polls. He genuinely wants this to go on, writes Daniel McConnell