💚 IT’S OFFICIAL! Belfast has just launched the bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028! The atmosphere and buzz of Fleadh 2026 was like nothing Belfast has seen before. 2026 was also the largest Fleadh in history welcoming over 1.6 million visitors! Let’s put our shoulders to the wheel and bring the Fleadh back in 2028 to make history again! 👏🏻

In 2022, history was made when the people gave me a mandate to be their First Minister. And I stand here today every bit as much First Minister as I was on that historic day when I took office. The DUP’s efforts to disrupt me in my role as First Minister are undemocratic, supremacist, and rooted in their inability to accept a nationalist First Minister.

Heartbreaking to hear that Ciara Mageaan has passed away this morning. A champion in every sense of the word and a role model for all athletes. She represented her country with pride and helped put Irish athletics on the map. An Olympian and European Champion showed the clear talent she had. And just like her sport, she faced her cancer diagnosis with bravery and determination. Ciara's legacy will live on and she will continue to be an inspiration to many. To her husband, Thomas, her family and friends our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam

The comments by DUP leader Gavin Robinson today were arrogant and supremacist. The DUP is consumed with their own internal leadership troubles and divisions. They are in turmoil. The days of domination and supremacy are over. The days of treating people like second class citizens are over. There will be no going back. Not now, and not ever. I, as First Minister, will be at the Assembly on Monday morning, along with Sinn Féin’s Ministers, to continue our work. We will keep showing up every day for people.

The deputy First Minister has decided to block representation from here at major political event, which would include meeting with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, and the British Prime Minister. It is for the people to decide who represents them as First Minister. Not the DUP.

I will always stand up for the right of our nurses, healthcare workers and public sector staff to be paid a fair wage. Unfortunately, today the British government has once again failed to provide the funding needed to make sure workers here get the fair pay they deserve. I will never accept workers here being treated as worth less than those doing the same jobs elsewhere. I will always have our workers' backs and keep fighting to make sure they get the fair pay they deserve.

Today we remember with pride Vice President of Sinn Féin, Maire Drumm, on her 50th anniversary. It is an honour to follow in the footsteps of such an incredibly strong Republican leader, and to now hold the position of Vice President of Sinn Féin which Maire also held.

🛣️ The Cookstown Bypass is another step closer! Good news for Cookstown today as plans for the long-awaited bypass have reached another important milestone! The initial business case has now been approved, showing why the bypass is needed, what it could cost and the difference it could make for local people. It's another important step towards easing traffic congestion in the town centre, cutting journey times and making local roads safer. Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is determined to see this much-needed bypass delivered for the people of Cookstown.

I want to send my love and support to the family of Seán Brown as they are once again shamefully dragged through the courts by a British government determined to defy court rulings and obstruct their right to public inquiry. For 28 years, Bridie and her daughters have shown extraordinary strength, courage and dignity in their tireless fight for truth and justice for a much-loved husband and father. I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Brown family and the Bellaghy community until truth and justice for Seán is secured.

💚 What a brilliant few weeks of the GAA, with football, hurling and camogie finals showcasing the talent, passion and pride that make Gaelic games so special. A huge go raibh maith agaibh to everyone who makes it happen - those who take to the field, coach, officiate, volunteer behind the scenes, and turn up week after week to support their club. Comhghairdeas to all the new county champions, and ádh mór as you progress to the next stage of your campaigns. To those who came close, keep the heads up. Your hard work and resilience will see you back again. The GAA is thriving across Ulster, and I’ll continue to do all I can to support its growth and development.

👏🏻 Delighted to attend the packed launch of Sinn Féin Strangford candidate Chris Hazzard’s election campaign at the Montalto Estate! With new areas coming into Strangford for the first time in the Assembly election next year, Sinn Féin is now in pole position to win a seat. You can elect the first Sinn Féin MLA ever in Strangford. You can elect Chris Hazzard. Together, let’s make history in Strangford.

Today I am attending an interview with the PSNI in relation to the peaceful protest at Garvaghy Road. I am proud to have stood in support of the Garvaghy Road residents to protect 28 years of peace and progress. Standing up for what is right is always the right thing to do. There is no going back. Not now. Not ever.

A packed room in the Ivanhoe Hotel tonight in Carryduff for the launch of Sinn Féin’s South Belfast and Mid Down election campaign. Pat Cullen and Deirdre Hargey are two formidable candidates with a strong record of leadership and standing up for people. For the first time ever, Sinn Féin can win two Assembly seats in South Belfast and Mid Down next May. Every vote will count next May. Together, let’s make history.

Our nurses and healthcare staff deserve fair pay, and they deserve it without delay. Our Sinn Féin team met with the Royal College of Nursing in recent days to offer our full support to our nursing staff. The British Government continues to treat our healthcare staff as less than those in Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Scotland receives £3bn more in funding, and Wales £1bn more. That is a disgrace. This underfunding is denying our nurses and healthcare staff the fair pay they deserve. I will keep fighting, day and night, for fair pay for our all our healthcare workers.

I will be interviewed by the PSNI later this week in relation to the peaceful protest in solidarity with Garvaghy Road residents. Alongside many others, I was proud to stand with the Garvaghy Road community to protect 28 years of peace and progress. I will always stand up for what is right. We have come too far to allow our society to be dragged backwards to the days of domination and supremacy. Everyone must be allowed to live their lives free from sectarian intimidation and harassment. There is no going back. Not now. Not ever.

🙌🏼 An absolutely wonderful occasion at my local post primary school, St Joseph’s in Coalisland, celebrating the achievements of our young people. Maith sibh to every one of you who has worked so hard to achieve great things, in the classroom, in sport, on the stage and in the community. We also remembered with great fondness two amazing young lads; Conor and Hugh John. Their loss has been deeply felt by the school and local community this year. As First Minister, I am so, so proud of these young people and their achievements, as are their teachers and families. St Joseph’s will always hold a very special place in my heart. Having grown up alongside many of the parents in attendance, now seeing their sons and daughters doing so well fills my heart with absolute joy and pride! 💚

Our health workers deserve fair pay. Nothing less. My responsibility is to our workers, not to the British Secretary of State. Scotland receives £3bn more in funding than us. Wales £1bn more. The British Government is underfunding our services and treating our workers with contempt. I will not accept it. I will keep fighting for fair funding and fair pay.

Our nurses and health workers deserve to be paid fairly, the same as NHS workers elsewhere. That has always been a priority for me. We have continued to challenge the British Government to secure the fair funding needed to deliver that. If we were funded on the same basis as Scotland, we’d have an extra £3 billion a year. Wales? An extra £1 billion. So why are our health workers and taxpayers here being treated as second best? It’s completely unacceptable. Our health workers deserve nothing less than to be paid fairly and paid on time.

A majority in the Assembly has tonight rejected the attempt by unionists to remove me from office. I’m proud to have stood with the Garvaghy Road residents. The people of the Garvaghy Road and nationalists across the North will never be treated as second-class citizens. There will be no going back. Not now, not ever.