Bright young things

Fresh policy initiatives may have been thin on the ground at the Ard Fheis, but Sinn Féin certainly weren’t lacking in brand new young candidates for the local and European elections.

While 'Mary Lou McDonald fatigue' may be setting in already, due to the Dublin European election candidate appearing to be umbilically attached to Gerry Adams' and Martin McGuinness's shoulders for the past six months, there were plenty of other less high profile prospects on display.

No secret is made of the fact the party has high hopes that the slickly presented Ms McDonald won't just be chalking down the European election to experience, but rather has a real chance of taking a seat in Brussels.