Michelle O'Neill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michelle O'Neill MLA
O'Neill in 2024
First Minister of Northern Ireland
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 February 2024 Serving with Emma Little-Pengelly
Preceded by	Paul Givan (2022)
Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
In office 11 January 2020 – 4 February 2022 Serving with Arlene Foster; Paul Givan
Preceded by	Martin McGuinness (2017)
Succeeded by	Emma Little-Pengelly (2024)
Vice President of Sinn Féin
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 February 2018
President	Mary Lou McDonald
Preceded by	Mary Lou McDonald
Cabinet offices and other roles 2005–2017 Minister of Health In office 25 May 2016 – 2 March 2017 First Minister Arlene Foster Preceded by Simon Hamilton Succeeded by Robin Swann Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development In office 5 May 2011 – 6 May 2016 First Minister Peter Robinson Arlene Foster Preceded by Michelle Gildernew Succeeded by Michelle McIlveen Member of the Legislative Assembly for Mid Ulster Incumbent Assumed office 7 March 2007 Preceded by Geraldine Dougan Mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone In office June 2010 – June 2011 Preceded by Francie Molloy Succeeded by Kenneth Reid Member of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council for Torrent In office 5 May 2005 – 5 May 2011 Preceded by Jim Canning Succeeded by Pádraig Quinn
Personal details
Born	Michelle Doris (1977-01-10) 10 January 1977 (age 48) Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
Political party	Sinn Féin
Spouse	Paddy O'Neill ​ ​ (m. 1995; sep. 2014)​
Children	2
O'Neill left the role of dFM when Arlene Foster resigned as FM on 14 June 2021. She was reappointed dFM alongside FM Paul Givan on 17 June 2021.

Michelle O'Neill (born Michelle Doris on 10 January 1977) is an Irish politician. She has been the First Minister of Northern Ireland since February 2024. She is also the Vice President of Sinn Féin, a major political party, since 2018.

Michelle O'Neill has been a MLA for Mid Ulster in the Northern Ireland Assembly since 2007. Before becoming First Minister, she was the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2020 to 2022. She also served on the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council from 2005 to 2011.

In 2011, she became the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development. Later, in 2016, she was promoted to Minister of Health. In January 2020, she became deputy First Minister after a political agreement helped restart the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

After the 2022 Assembly election, Sinn Féin became the largest party, meaning Michelle O'Neill was expected to become First Minister. However, she didn't take the role until February 2024 because of political disagreements. When she finally became First Minister, it was a historic moment, as it was the first time an Irish nationalist held this top position in Northern Ireland.

Early Life and Education

Michelle O'Neill was born in Fermoy, a town in County Cork, Republic of Ireland. Her family comes from Clonoe, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and has a history of involvement in Irish politics. Her father, Brendan Doris, was a local politician and councillor for Sinn Féin. Her uncle, Paul Doris, was a former leader of a group that supported Irish causes.

Michelle went to St. Patrick's Girls' Academy, a Catholic grammar school in Dungannon, Tyrone. After school, she started training to become an accounting technician before deciding to pursue a career in politics.

Political Journey

Starting in Politics

Michelle O'Neill became interested in politics when she was a teenager. She helped her father with his work as a local councillor. She officially joined Sinn Féin in 1998 when she was 21, after the Good Friday Agreement was signed. She then worked as an advisor for Francie Molloy in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

In 2005, she was elected to represent the Torrent area on the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council. She took over the seat that her father had previously held. In the 2007 Assembly election, she was elected as an MLA for Mid Ulster.

While working in the Assembly, she was part of committees that focused on education and health. In 2010, she became the Mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone. Michelle O'Neill was the first woman to hold this position and one of the youngest mayors ever. She served as mayor until 2011.

Working as a Minister

O'Neill (far left) at the European Parliament, 2017

After the 2011 Assembly election, Michelle O'Neill became the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development. One of her important decisions was to move the department's main office from Belfast to Ballykelly. This was done to spread government jobs to different parts of Northern Ireland.

In 2016, she became the Minister of Health. Soon after taking office, she announced changes to rules about blood donation in Northern Ireland. On 25 October 2016, she introduced a ten-year plan called Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together. This plan aimed to improve and update the health system.

Becoming Vice President of Sinn Féin

O'Neill with deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in 2014

In January 2017, Martin McGuinness stepped down as deputy First Minister. Michelle O'Neill was then chosen to be Sinn Féin's new leader in Northern Ireland. This was a significant step, as it showed a new direction for the party's leadership.

In the 2017 Assembly election, O'Neill was re-elected to the Assembly, receiving the most votes in Mid Ulster. In March 2017, she suggested that there should be a public vote on whether Northern Ireland should reunite with the Republic of Ireland, especially after Brexit.

In February 2018, Michelle O'Neill became the Vice President of Sinn Féin. She took over from Mary Lou McDonald, who became the party's president. In November 2019, she faced a challenge for her leadership role but won with 67% of the votes.

Serving as Deputy First Minister

In January 2020, Michelle O'Neill was appointed deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. She temporarily lost this role in June 2021 when Arlene Foster resigned as First Minister. However, she was reappointed three days later alongside Paul Givan as First Minister. In February 2022, she again lost her position as deputy First Minister when Paul Givan resigned.

First Minister of Northern Ireland

Before Taking Office (2022–2024)

O'Neill, as First Minister designate, meets with First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf, November 2023

After the 2022 Assembly election, Sinn Féin won the most seats, making them the largest political party. This meant Michelle O'Neill was set to become the First Minister. However, she didn't take the position until February 2024. This was because the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refused to nominate a deputy First Minister due to their concerns about the Northern Ireland Protocol. This meant the government could not fully operate.

In August 2022, O'Neill was asked about the past conflict in Northern Ireland. She said that at the time, there seemed to be "no alternative" to conflict, but thankfully, now there is peace through the Good Friday Agreement. She added in February 2024 that the Good Friday Agreement was the true alternative, and she was glad they reached that point.

In September 2022, Michelle O'Neill attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, which was a break from some traditional republican views. In May 2023, she also attended the coronation of King Charles III. She explained that she wanted to show respect and be a First Minister for everyone in Northern Ireland.

As First Minister (2024–present)

O'Neill (second from left) with U.S. President Joe Biden, March 2024

On 30 January 2024, the Democratic Unionist Party agreed to return to power-sharing. This cleared the way for Michelle O'Neill to be sworn in as First Minister of Northern Ireland. She officially took office on 3 February 2024. This was a historic moment, as she became the first Irish nationalist or Catholic to hold this position. In her acceptance speech, she promised to represent everyone and show respect to the royal family.

Soon after, she met with important leaders like Rishi Sunak (the UK Prime Minister), Chris Heaton-Harris (a UK government minister), and Leo Varadkar (the Irish Taoiseach). A key topic was asking for more financial support for the Northern Ireland government.

In November 2024, O'Neill became the first senior Sinn Féin figure to take part in an official Remembrance Sunday ceremony. She laid a wreath at the Belfast Cenotaph at City Hall.

Plans for Government

As First Minister, Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly released the Northern Ireland Executive's plan for government from 2024 to 2027. This plan focuses on several important areas:

• Making Northern Ireland's economy strong and sustainable.
• Expanding early learning and childcare options.
• Reducing waiting times for healthcare.
• Improving support for children with special educational needs.
• Increasing the number of available social homes.
• Making public services better.

Economy Goals

O'Neill (left) and Emma Little-Pengelly (right) with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, 2024

The Northern Ireland Executive has promised to help reach the goal of having 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. They also confirmed that they would start working on a new law about employment rights. The Minister for Economy and the trade board will visit other countries to encourage investment in Northern Ireland. O'Neill also said that work would begin on a new Employment Rights Act and a Good Work Charter. These aim to create better jobs and help people have a good work-life balance.

Education Goals

As First Minister, Michelle O'Neill has promised to strengthen research and development. This will be done by helping universities and businesses work together more closely, with extra funding. The 2024 government plan recognized that the current education system needs to change to keep up with students' needs. It also noted that the way children and young people are supported needs a big improvement, which requires more money. By 2027, the Northern Ireland Executive plans to have a full plan in place to improve outcomes for children, their families, and the education staff who support them.

Personal Life

Michelle O'Neill became a mother at the age of 16. She completed her A-level studies at her Catholic grammar school. She then trained to be an adviser on welfare rights. She married Paddy O'Neill when she was 18, and they have two children together. They separated in 2014. Michelle O'Neill became a grandmother in 2023.

Electoral History

Northern Ireland Assembly elections

See also

In Spanish: Michelle O'Neill para niños