Updated 11.25am
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald is set to succeed Gerry Adams as the party's leader.
The party's deputy leader and Dublin Central TD was announced as president-elect at a Sinn Féin AGM in Belfast this morning, a day after nominations for the leadership closed.
Deputy McDonald's nomination is expected to be ratified at a special Ard Fheis next month.
Gerry Adams has been leader of Sinn Féin since 1983, and announced his intention to stand down last year.
.@MaryLouMcDonald announced as President Elect of Sinn Féin pic.twitter.com/zdUQVpjJ9u
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) January 20, 2018
Mary Lou McDonald was originally a member of the Fianna Fáil party before joining Sinn Féin.
After a stint in the European Parliament, she became a TD in February 2011.
Thanking party members today, Deputy McDonald said: "I want to say at the very outset that I don't for a moment underestimate the scale of this undertaking - both on a personal level and indeed on a political level.
"The truth is, and so many of you have said to me quite correctly 'you have very big shoes to fill'. The truth is that no-one will ever fill Gerry Adams' shoes... I won't fill Gerry's shoes - the news is I've brought my own."
She added: "I will fill my shoes. I will walk in my shoes. And we together, over the coming years, will walk a journey that is full of opportunities and full of challenges - but I believe marks a defining chapter in our achievement of a united Ireland."
We have to grow our party, modernise and be fit for purpose but we always hold true to our vision - @MaryLouMcDonald pic.twitter.com/4KYBUcEUER
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) January 20, 2018
