Will Michelle O'Neill be the first Catholic First Minister/PM of the north since partition

I think people now have started looking at NI as more than just Catholic or Protestant, and Catholic = Nationalist, Protestant = Unionists is an oversimplification.

O'Neill may be a Catholic but the policies her party support are ad odds with Catholic teachings.

Equally there are DUP members that have principles that closely adhere to Catholic teachings.

With the change in attitude to religion in both the north and south it's not as easy to put people in Catholic or Protestant boxes, even though religion is still a huge part of how the two communities developed and are identified.

Once again Rory McIllroy can be used as an example, brought up Catholic but you would struggle to describe him as a nationalist.

It's probably better to say she's the first nationalist in the top job...

And any sort of sensitive questioning as asked by the substitute host on today with Sarah mcinerney are just answered with a great big

DEFLECT

In this case a rather stupid question was put to to Pádraig about how the Jeffery Donaldson will feel now

And, predictably of course

Padraic simply

DEFLECTS

Good take on these matters  & nail on the head.

It'll be a good photo op and bit of press for a few days. But really Francie, it would suit SF better to have a dysfunctional administration that they can point to as the failings of partition etc etc. I expect shenanigans to come and they'll be looking for another way to play the blame game and pin a walk out on the DUP.

The DUP will presumably be alive to this and try to avoid falling for it, if/ when Stormont falls again they'll be wanting to lay the blame firmly on SF.

So we may expect a lot of jockeying and maybe little enough being done after a while.

But that's not how it's going to pan out is it Francie? The unionist strategy now is to make sure that the people of NI feel that it is a good place to live, that there are benefits accruing to them from both London and Dublin, that they wouldn't get in any UI. The strategy will be to make the statelet as you put it, successful.

That's throwing down the gauntlet to SF - let's make this place work together etc will be the PR message.

And there are undeniable benefits to NI residents if they play the system smartly. Likewise partition may be odious down south here but the border also has it's practical benefits for us too. I saved €500 on coal this winter for example so far.

You mean Unionism have had a Paulian moment and will drop their blocking of agreed rights? Stop trying to get a return of their veto?

Really? You bought the 'let's make this place work all' line?

Ok. We'll see soon enough.

That will be the unionist strategy, it's the best hope going forward to protect their interests. Make the place work, let people feel they have a good deal and benefiting from being in the UK (& EU by the back door). So that if any talk of a border poll emerges, the plain people will just go 'nah, we have it too good'!

The Shinners have a choice of either joining in the game and cultivating an image of success and power and 'sure, shouldn't you just join us across the border' or keeping NI a poxy place place to live with the message 'you'll be better off in a UI'.

Direct rule doesn't really suit either.

Thank you for letting me live normally in my own city is it?

What you think enabled gerrymandering, and the deprivation of rights I shudder to think tbh.

I know you are a fanatical fan of Rome but NI has very little to do with religion these days. There are very few "staunch" Catholics in Ireland these days. Very few people that believe the bible or Rome's teaching or practice on a regular basis. Many people do see the damage that religion and the warped power associated with it caused on our island over the past few decades but thankfully we have moved past it although many survivors are still suffering.

The British played a major part in how the IRA conducted themselves. It’s estimated that half of the senior figures in the IRA were working for the Brits during the height of the troubles.

its the brits fault that the ira murdered and maimed so many innocents ?

keep pushing that emmet , its the attitude that will keep shinners out of government for another generation or two hopefully :-)

What about Cumann na nGaedheal and Fianna Fáil governments of the 20s, 30s and 40s?

Its a fact of life. She should be aware of it after all her years in office. Horrible things are going to be said about her policy, actions and even appearance. That wont change. She doesnt have to look at it or "do something" about it unless she wants to chase shadows the rest of her life. She needs to get on with the job and not react to every single thing.

have a look at hamas ....

This talk is all pedantry.

The main takeaway is that tomorrow, whatever way you slice it, the Sun will set on this nation under the leadership of entirely democratically elected Irish nationalists, for the first time in history.

Certainly since the advent of parliamentary democracy and arguably since the last High King who commanded the loyalty of all the important Lords, Ruairí Ó Conchúir in the late 12th Century.

Obviously its not the end of the journey, but its a massive milestone nonetheless.

Quite right, but what we do know is that she's a Cork woman. Pity MM isn't Taoiseach ATM, then Cork would be running the country.

I think it is quite likely the divide will continue with someone like Michelle O'Neill as First Minister, given who control her and her past attendance, sometimes speaking, at events commemorating IRA members.  If the boot was on the other foot it would be like the unionists electing and having as First Minister someone who speaks at events commemorating Loyalist paramilitary members. Time will tell if she can be a First Minister for all.

Relevant how?

Im not a Catholic.

O'Neill isnt one either.