Sinn Féin leader says she never considered stepping down despite hard year for the party

Mary Lou McDonald said while the number of seats they won in June’s local and European elections 'wasn’t the result that we wished for', the party is election-ready 

Leader Mary Lou McDonald arriving at the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone, for the Sinn Féin ard fheis where she was re-elected party president. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Mary Lou McDonald has said that she has never considered stepping down as Sinn Féin leader despite a difficult year for the party.

At the Sinn Féin ard fheis, where Ms McDonald was re-elected party president, she said they are “in it to win it” when a general election is called.