Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has told a festival audience that Irish reunification represents the greatest opportunity for the current generation, while also calling for a left-wing government that prioritises working-class interests.

Speaking at the Robert Tressell Festival, Ms McDonald said a fundamental departure from the political consensus dominated by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael was needed. She argued that class and who controls wealth are central issues, and that the Irish working class requires a government that acts unambiguously on its behalf.

She invoked the words of socialist republican James Connolly, saying that working people demand substantial change. Ms McDonald acknowledged that the left is not monolithic and that differences exist, but she urged a focus on shared objectives.

The Sinn Féin leader warned that the political right exploits desperation and can weaponise social concerns. She said it was important for progressives to hear genuine worries from working-class communities about access to services and resources, rather than dismissing them. At the same time, she described racism as repulsive and said there is never an excuse for scapegoating.

On the constitutional question, Ms McDonald stated that Irish reunification is the defining project of this generation and the biggest opportunity for young people to build their future. She called for what she termed the reconquest of Ireland culturally, socially and economically.

Sinn Féin is currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland and has consistently pressed for a referendum on Irish unity.