Michelle O’Neill attends first Windsor Park game

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Irish Football Association president Conrad Kirkwood greeted Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly on their arrival

First Minister Michelle O’Neill is attending her first Northern Ireland game at Windsor Park.

She is joined by Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at the game between the Northern Ireland women’s team and Montenegro.

The Uefa Women’s Nations League play-off match kicked off at 19:00 GMT.

Ms O’Neill committed to attending a Northern Ireland match at Windsor Park after taking up the post of first minister earlier in February.

In 2023, she also showed her support for the Northern Ireland senior men’s team ahead of a crunch game on social media.

She stood for the national anthem prior to kick off.

On arrival at the game on Tuesday, Ms O’Neill said it was “great to be here this evening”.

“It is going to be a great night,” she added.

“Looking forward to the game, we are all bringing our layers to be wrapped up.

“I think it is important for women in sport that we all get behind them and actually support them.

“I think tonight is going to be a fabulous night and I am really pleased to be here.”

Michelle O’Neill was accompanied by Emma Little-Pengelly, and Sports minister Gordon Lyons

Ms Little-Pengelly said: “We are all really supportive of our women in Northern Ireland football, so it is really good that we are all here this evening to support them.

“We hope they do really well, they have been fantastic ambassadors for Northern Ireland, I know that they will continue to be so.”

The two ministers were greeted on arrival by Irish Football Association chief executive Patrick Nelson and president Conrad Kirkwood.

Michelle O’Neill stood as God Save the King was played ahead of the game

Michelle O’Neill is not the first Sinn Féin minister to attend a match at Windsor Park.

In 2011, former Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín watched a Euro Qualifier game between Northern Ireland men’s team and the Faroe Islands.

Ms Ní Chuilín described her visit to Windsor Park as a “new experience” and said she had enjoyed the game.

She later tweeted: “First visit to Windsor Park, enjoyed game, well-received.”

In 2011, Carál Ní Chuilín watched a Euro qualifier game between Northern Ireland men’s team and the Faroe Islands

Ms Ní Chuilín took her seat in the stand after the national anthem had been played.

In 2016, then-Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness attended Northern Ireland’s match against Germany during Euro 2016.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has accompanied Ms O’Neill and Mrs Little-Pengelly to the match.

Junior Ministers Aisling Reilly, of Sinn Féin, and Pam Cameron of the Democratic Unionist Party are also attending.

Newly-elected GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) President Jarlath Burns previously said he too planned to be at Windsor Park for the game.

Northern Ireland were 2-0 winners in the first leg of the Nations League tie which was played on Friday.

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