'I'm told I'm brutal at it': Mary Lou McDonald bowls up in Galway to a warm welcome

The Sinn Féin leader was generous with her time for residents, listening intently to their concerns and promising to address them

Mary Lou McDonald: 'While she may be abrasive in her interactions in the Dáil chamber, on the ground she is warm and generous with her time.' Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

On the by-election campaign trail in Galway City, Mary Lou McDonald was talking about retirement.

Stopping in on a bowls group at the Westside Community Centre she told them: "When I came in, I said: 'These are serious, this is a serious operation'. I have attempted this a couple of times in the past, because the seniors in my own community play it, and I'm told I'm brutal at it, and they'd advise me that when the time comes when I actually retire, that I'm going to have to work very hard to get up to the required standard."

Her comments immediately sparked laughter and an offer of some bowls lessons.

For political leaders, a long and successful career can often end in a 'jump-or-be-pushed moment', as is currently .

Ahead of Sinn Féin's recent ard fheis, Ms McDonald was forced to address reports of a growing unease about her leadership, indicating a loss in the Dublin Central by-election could affect her position.

But she is adamant she is going nowhere.

"I was re-elected as the leader of the Sinn Féin ard fheis a matter of two weeks ago. That is the leadership question answered by the Sinn Féin membership.

"That is my job. I am entrusted with that role, with that responsibility, with that privilege, and I will discharge my duties in accordance with the mandate given to me by the members of Sinn Féin."

Asked if she had missed her time to enter power back in 2020, when the party misjudged the appetite among voters and didn't put forward enough general election candidates to meet demand, she said: "Sinn Féin's moment has not yet arrived, but it will arrive. I am absolutely convinced that with the right work, with the right commitment, and with the backing of communities the length and breadth of the country, that we can actually get a government beyond Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. I believe that's entirely possible."

While the reports of grumblings within her party gained significant attention — Sinn Féin unlike other political parties, seldom breaks the closed ranks to speak of any rancour that may exist — many members see Ms McDonald as the only mechanism to allow it eventually enter a government.

While she may be abrasive in her interactions in the Dáil chamber, on the ground she is warm and generous with her time.

“I was expecting a cavalcade," said one woman who had heard of her canvassing trip to Galway City on local radio and had turned up to meet her.

“We keep it quiet, I like to get in and have the real chats with people," Ms McDonald said before listening to the local woman explain the good work that is carried out by Cancer Care West.

She listened intently to a man who approached with a personal issue, spending a good chunk of time with him, shaking his hand and asking for his contact details to allow her office follow up with him before she moved on.

Another man raised issues with health insurance. She bent down low and promised to make personal representations if her office couldn't resolve it.

“That’s an absolute shambles of a situation. The lads will follow up on that, you’ll find if that’s happening to you, it’s happening to other people.

“If you are not getting any joy, I will intervene directly."

Ms McDonald is adamant Friday's elections will provide the public with an opportunity to "put Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on notice", but they are as much a test of her leadership as they are for the two Government parties.