‘This is my last Ard Fheis as Uachtarán Shinn Féin’

Gerry Adams (69), a TD for Louth, also announced that he will not contest the next Dáil election.

GERRY ADAMS announced during his Ard Fheis Presidential address live on RTÉ TV on Saturday night that he is to stand down as leader of Sinn Féin.

The move is his initiative “as part of the process of regeneration and renewal” within Sinn Féin that he had discussed with the late Martin McGuinness to build on the growing strength of the republican party that he has led since 1983.

It comes as part of a long-considered strategy worked out with the late Martin McGuinness and fits into the 10-year development plan that Sinn Féin has devised to be in Government North and South and its goal of the reunification of Ireland.

Gerry Adams (69), a TD for Louth, also announced that he will not contest the next Dáil election.

He told Sinn Féin members attending the closing session of the Ard Fheis in Dublin that he will be asking the incoming Ard Chomhairle to convene a special Ard Fheis in the New Year to elect a new leader.

Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams had deep discussions about when they would both step back from their leadership positions. These were overshadowed, however, by the unexpected serious illness that struck Martin McGuinness late last year and the former deputy First Minister’s death on 21 March this year.

This came after Martin’s resignation from the post in January over the DUP’s involvement in the financial scandal engulfing the green energy RHI scheme and the roles of high-ranking DUP figures, including First Minister Arlene Foster, and DUP opposition to equality and legacy issues.

Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin President, at Ard Fheis 2017 – ‘Doing our best, moving forward, united, strong and together’

Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader, at Ard Fheis 2017 – Join us in the journey to a new Ireland

Michelle O’Neill,  Sinn Féin Leader in the North, at Ard Fheis 2017 – Republicanism and unionism must reach a sustainable compromise through respectful dialogue

An Phoblacht pictures from the 2017 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis – Photo Gallery 1 –  Photo Gallery 2