Michelle O'Neill: Balancing act ahead for a historic first minister

Michelle O'Neill promises to be a "first minister for all"

She may have felt the hand of history on her shoulder at the weekend but now Michelle O'Neill will be feeling the pressure to deliver on a long-standing promise.

For the past two years while waiting to get the keys to her office, Sinn Féin's Stormont leader has promised to be a first minister for all.

She repeated that pledge in her speech on Saturday after becoming the first republican to hold that post in Northern Ireland's 103-year history.

She told unionists their national identity, culture and traditions were important to her.

The first minister then promised to be "inclusive and respectful".

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If Michelle O'Neill is to be a first minister for all, she will have to step well beyond her comfort zone, while at the same time remembering a first minister for "all" also includes republicans.

She has already shown a willingness to reach out.

Along with her party leader Mary Lou McDonald, she has built up a relationship with the Royal Family, even exchanging letters with King Charles.

Ms O'Neill attended the King's coronation after previously attending the funeral of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey and Michelle O'Neill previously met the King at Hillsborough Castle after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II

At the time she said her attendance was about fulfilling her promise to be first minister for all.

The warmth of the relationship between the pair was also evident when she offered her condolences to the King at Hillsborough Castle.

It was a big step for the daughter of a former IRA prisoner.

But it was a step made easier by her predecessor Martin McGuinness who had struck up a relationship with the royals after a historic handshake with the Queen in 2012.

In the end, the former deputy first minister was accused by some republicans of going too far, too fast.

But, 12 years on, Michelle O'Neill will be expected to go much further.

Eyebrows raised

So what "firsts" might we see from the new first minister?

Could she become the first republican leader to attend a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) passing-out parade?

Sinn Féin has been accused of having a lukewarm approach to the PSNI, though Ms O'Neill has attended a police recruitment event in the past.

But will she be under pressure now to fully embrace the PSNI's efforts to recruit more Catholic officers?

Could we also see her attending events in unionist areas? Last year she went to east Belfast for the funeral of May Blood, which raised some eyebrows at the time.

Might a trip to Windsor Park to watch Northern Ireland playing football also be on the cards?

For the first time, last year, she tweeted her support for Northern Ireland ahead of a key game. That too raised some eyebrows.

Small steps

But her greatest challenge may come closer to home.

She is a proud republican and has regularly attended commemorations for dead IRA members.

Her two cousins were in the IRA and one of them was shot dead by the SAS.

Attending such commemorations now as first minister may be considered a step too far.

She may also chose her words more carefully.

It was noticeable she left out any reference to a united Ireland or a border poll in her assembly speech.

But in a follow-up interview she predicted a united Ireland in her lifetime and maybe in the next decade.

Mindful of unionists who suffered during the Troubles, she also appeared to offer an indirect apology to IRA victims.

She told the assembly: "I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict, without exception."

These are all small steps along the tightest of tightropes.

Staying balanced and avoiding mis-steps will be key if our new first minister is to live up to her own billing.