Stormont's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has attended her first Northern Ireland football match at Windsor Park in Belfast.
She stood for the singing of the British national anthem just before kick-off in the UEFA Women's Nations League play-off between Northern Ireland and Montenegro.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Stormont's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, both of the DUP, accompanied her to the game.
Two senior Sinn Féin members previously attended Northern Ireland matches, former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and former Stormont Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, but they took their seats after the singing of the national anthems.
It is great to be in Windsor Park this evening to cheer on the Northern Ireland Women's team in their crucial Nations League play-off. Best of luck to the team! 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/stj5RgXiS7
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) February 27, 2024
Not this time. Ms O'Neill stood in the stands as God the Save the King reverberated around the stadium and applauded afterwards. All part of her pledge to be a First Minister for all.
Earlier, she spoke of her delight at being invited to the match.
"It's great to be here, it's going to be a great night," she said.
"I think it's important, particularly for women in sport, that we all get behind them and actually support them. I think tonight's going to be a fabulous night and I'm really pleased to be here."
Ms O'Neill had stood for the British national anthem before, during the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and at the Coronation of King Charles.
However, the decision to do so at a sporting event in a venue viewed as hostile by many nationalists and republicans was a break with Sinn Féin's previous position.
Jarlath Burns also made history by becoming the first sitting president of the GAA to attend a game at Windsor Park, but he sought to downplay the significance.
"I love all sports, it's very important that we show ourselves in the GAA as being inclusive, as being prepared to accept very generous invitations like this," he told RTÉ News.
"I'm not too sure that it's that symbolic that I am going here tonight. All I have done is accept an invitation from the IFA in Northern Ireland to attend a match. Officials from Ulster GAA attend these matches routinely, it's been happening for many years.
"I follow the Northern Ireland ladies team. They are great role models, particularly their captain Marissa Callaghan, who is a role model to the girls in the school where I am principal and I'm really looking forward to supporting them tonight."
UEFA officials had earlier expressed surprise and puzzlement at the level of media interest in a politician attending a football match.
However, Northern Ireland is a place where politics and sport are often contentious.
Ms O'Neill's attendance at the match and her decision to stand for God Save the King is viewed as a sign that politics has moved on.
The fact that it is still viewed as a newsworthy event shows that there remains a long way to travel.
