Mary Lou McDonald 'fully recovered' following operation in June

Mary Lou McDonald said the comments and messages she received from people “helped” her and meant a lot to her while she was recovering.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she is now “fully recovered” following an operation in June.

Ms McDonald had previously tweeted that she had surgery at Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital.

In a video posted on social media, Ms McDonald said the comments and messages she received from people “helped” her and meant a lot to her while she was recovering.

Ms McDonald is set to speak to reporters on Friday ahead of her party’s parliamentary 'think-in' in advance of the new Dáil term.

In the video, the Sinn Féin leader said she is now back at work and “more determined than ever to lead change” that she says the public “so desperately want to see.” She also hit out at Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael who she said have done “damage” over many years.

She said: “As some of you know, I had an operation in June, and I’ve been recovering over the last number of weeks. I just want to say a very big thank you for all the comments and support and messages sent to me and how much they mean to me and helped me.

“I’m happy to let you know that I’m now fully recovered. Back at work and more determined than ever to lead the change that I know you so desperately want to see.

“Friends, we all know the huge damage Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have done over many, many years and it’s absolutely clear that they’re out of touch, out of ideas and completely incapable of solving the many crises that we face.” 

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She went on to say her party is “ready to lead” and to "bring about real change".

“And at that centre of that change is housing. The housing crisis has touched every corner of our lives in devastating ways, none more so than the generation of young people completely locked out of having a home they can afford.

“And for so many this has meant leaving Ireland.” 

Ms McDonald went on to say that Sinn Féin will fix the housing crisis and claims her party would deliver the “biggest social and affordable building programme this State has ever seen”.