Difficulties for Sinn Féin to attract a coalition partner even after Adams

It is time that the Great Leader acted decisively on this generational change he speaks about and stands down to make way for Mary Lou, writes Alison O’Connor

SO SINN Féin has bitten the bullet, as it were, and done the political equivalent of putting itself on Tinder. The problem with dating apps though is they require certain specifics, not least a face for the photograph.

But how can prospective partners even think about swiping right if they don’t know whether the match would be with Gerry Adams, president of the party since 1983, or someone else, most likely Mary Lou McDonald.