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ANALYSIS: Challenges and opportunities await Mary Lou

Mary Lou McDonald's acceptance speech acknowledged that Sinn Féin needed to change. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
Mary Lou McDonald's acceptance speech acknowledged that Sinn Féin needed to change. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire Mary Lou McDonald's acceptance speech acknowledged that Sinn Féin needed to change. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire

In her acceptance speech on Saturday Mary Lou McDonald said Sinn Féin needed to change. If the party is to grow in its key battleground south of the border then it must portray itself as a more professional and transparent organisation.

The Dublin Central TD's unanimous endorsement as leader represents a generational shift and signals a new post-conflict era for republicanism. It seems likely she will continue to pay oblique lip service to the armed struggle, as demonstrated with her speech's closing rallying cry of 'Up the rebels, tiocfaidh ár lá', but like Sinn Féin's larger rivals in the Republic, the IRA will increasingly be cast as an antecedent rather than an integral component that dictates the direction of the present day movement.

There are still those in the Republic who regard Sinn Féin with deep suspicion but by manoeuvring Gerry Adams to the wings, if not exiting the stage completely, the party hopes to broaden its appeal, and as the new leader said, ensure it is more "fit for purpose" – the purpose being to govern in the south.

Politics in the Republic is much more dynamic than in the north, and as the rise of the independents has shown, the dominance of the establishment parties is no longer a given.

The upheaval of the economic crisis a decade ago precipitated this political flux, and Brexit and the 8th amendment debate are likely to open fresh fissures in the established order, which Sinn Féin will be keen to exploit. There could be a snap election at any time, so the new leader will need to bed-in fast.

The persistent allegations of bullying also need to addressed and the abortion debate could lead to some high profile resignations.

However, non of the south's major parties is likely to escape unscathed from what is expected to be a divisive 8th amendment referendum campaign.

Developments over the last few days suggest that Sinn Féin is ready to end to its self-imposed Stormont exile if the DUP can somehow accommodate a standalone Irish language act yet also save face with the critical elements within unionism.

An ostensibly stable devolved government in the north would help Sinn Féin fend off criticism in the south but the restored executive also needs to be effective and united if it is to be sustainable – a task that will prove difficult given the acrimony of the past 12 months.

If a deal is struck, Sinn Féin's new leadership will be initially buoyed on both sides of the border but in order to realise its goal of doubling the size party and expanding its electoral appeal, that change will need to be more than merely superficial.