Generations watch on as O’Neill reaches out across divide on day of history

As she rose to speak just before 2:30pm, Michelle O’Neill glanced briefly up at the public viewing gallery high on the other side of Stormont’s grand debating chamber.

There, watching her, were her grown up daughter and son, Saoirse and Ryan. Seated close to them were Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and senior TD Pearse Doherty.

Also there was former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Fiachra McGuinness, the son of Martin McGuinness, often cited as Ms O’Neill’s political mentor.

The political symbolism of the moment was clear,