RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Mary Lou McDonald has become the first female leader of Sinn Fein; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Mary Lou McDonald was elected leader during a special party conference in Dublin, Ireland and takes the helm of the party following 34 years of leadership by Gerry Adams; and
WHEREAS, Mary Lou McDonald served as Gerry Adams deputy and brings to the position a wealth of experience; and
WHEREAS, Sinn Fein, the political wing of the banned Provincial Irish Republican Army, is translated into English as "Ourselves," and has long been associated with the slogan "Ourselves Alone"; and
WHEREAS, Born in a middle-class neighborhood in Dublin, Mary Lou McDonald joined Sinn Fein after the 1998 peace agreement after previously belonging to Fianna Fail, a conservative establishment party; and
WHEREAS, Mary Lou McDonald is a TD, a member of Dail Eireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the Irish Parliament for Dublin Central; and
WHEREAS,. Mary Lou McDonald was the only contender for the position of President of Sinn Fein and has been president-elect of the party since the beginning of this year; and
WHEREAS, Mary Lou McDonald is widely regarded for her formidable skill as an aggressive debater with a keen grasp of policy details; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Mary Lou McDonald serve as an example to all; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-eighth day of February, 2018, do hereby congratulate Mary Lou McDonald on becoming the first female leader of Sinn Fein and do hereby express our best wishes for her success in this new role; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
