Northern Ireland to elect first Irish nationalist First Minister; Michelle O’Neill set to make history

Northern Ireland set to elect an Irish nationalist as First Minister, signaling increasing popularity of Sinn Fein.

Michelle O’Neill on Saturday becomes the first nationalist leader of Northern Ireland’s government, when the assembly returns following a two-year boycott by the biggest pro-UK party.

The Sinn Fein politician’s nomination will be confirmed at a special sitting of the devolved legislature, which will also see the appointment of a deputy first minister and ministers.

Under the 1998 Good Friday or Belfast Agreement that ended three decades of sectarian violence over British rule in Northern Ireland, the first minister and deputy first minister posts are equal.

But the appointment of a Roman Catholic pro-Irish unity first minister in a nation set up as a Protestant-majority state under British rule is hugely symbolic.

It not only reflects Sinn Fein’s position as Northern Ireland’s biggest party but also shifting demographics, since the island of Ireland was split into two self-governing entities in 1921.

“This is an historic day. It is about the future,” O’Neill said on X, formerly Twitter, hours ahead of her swearing-in.