Northern Ireland

Seismic shifts leave the big players at a crossroads

The DUP has softened its tone about having Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin as First Minister, but as the dust settles from Thursday’s vote, there is still considerable work to be done to form a new Executive at Stormont

Titanic achievement: Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin arrive at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast for the counting of votes in the Assembly elections. Picture: PressEye

“Which road will you take?” That is the question posed by a fiery preacher to a terrified young child in Belfast, Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film about his childhood experiences at the begining of the Troubles in 1969.

The newly elected politicians in the Northern Assembly now have to decide which road they will take after an historic election campaign.

The DUP, the party founded by Ian Paisley sr, was full of fire and brimstone during ...