Sinn Féin have announced that Liadh Ní Riada will be their candidate for the upcoming Irish presidential election.

The announcement of Ms Ní Riada was expected, after party leader Mary Lou McDonald suggested she wanted to see a female candidate contest the election.

She will face the incumbent Michael D Higgins, independent senator Joan Freeman and the businessman Sean Gallagher when Ireland goes to the polls on 26 October.

Ms Ní Riada has been a Member of the European Parliament for Ireland since 2014, and was previously Sinn Féin’s Irish language officer.

The daughter of famous Irish composer Sean O Riada, the Dublin-born mother-of-three came to politics after a career in television, where she served on the board which set up the Irish language television channel TG4.

A fluent speaker of the native language, she also directed and produced documentaries, and ran her own production company. A relatively fresh face for Sinn Féin, it’s believed she can represent the party’s key causes without carrying any of their Troubles-era baggage.

The party also considered Irish TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Belfast solicitor John Finucane, but ultimately Ms Ní Riada was decided upon as the best candidate for the presidency.

Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Show all 55 1 /55 Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis celebrates the Holy Mass at the Phoenix Park, in Dublin AP Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis arrives at Phoenix Park for a Papal Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin EPA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures A vigil takes place at the site of the mass grave which contained the remains of 796 named babies from the Bon Secours Mother and Baby home in Tuam. The vigil coincides with the Phoenix park mass which is taking place in Dublin held by Pope Francis. Excavations at the site in 2017 revealed underground structures which held babies bodies with ages ranging from 35 weeks to three years old with most of the dead buried in the 1950s when the facility was run by the Bon Secours Sisters, a Catholic religious order of nuns who received unmarried pregnant women to give birth Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park Getty Images Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Children queue for communion during Pope Francis' closing Mass PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures The Stand4Truth rally gathers outside a former Magdalene laundry in Dublin as part of the demonstrations against clerical sex abuse PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis leads the Holy Mass at Phoenix Park AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Holy Mass at the Phoenix Park AP Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures The names of the victims are read out as a vigil takes place at the site of the mass grave which contained the remains of 796 named babies from the Bon Secours Mother and Baby home Getty Images Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis leads the Holy Mass at Phoenix Park AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures A member of the clergy carries a bowl of incense PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis celebrates the Holy Mass at the Phoenix Park, in Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Pope Francis is on the second of his two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures A vigil takes place at the site of the mass grave which contained the remains of 796 named babies Getty Images Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Members of the public pray as they watch Pope Francis deliver a Papal Mass of the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park EPA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis passes by a banner of a protester as he leaves St Mary's Pro-Cathedral AP Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis speaks during his visit to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless in Dublin AP Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on Christchurch PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on College Green PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Members of the public wave at Pope Francis as he travels through the city Getty Images Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis laughs as he leaves St Mary's Pro Cathedral during his visit to Dublin Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Two boys wave flags after climbing a post as they wait for Pope Francis Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pairs of baby shoes are hung from black ribbons on Gardiner Street in Dublin in memory of the children who died at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Crowds on O'Connell Street PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 25: (NO SALES) In this handout image provided by Maxwell Photography for 2018 WMOF2018, Pope Francis and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar greet a child at Dublin Castle on August 25, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. Pope Francis is the 266th Catholic Pope and current sovereign of the Vatican. His visit, the first by a Pope since John Paul II's in 1979, is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of Catholics to a series of events in Dublin and Knock. During his visit he will have private meetings with victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. (Photo by WMOF2018/Maxwell Photography via Getty Images) Handout WMOF2018/Maxwell Photography/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis memorabilia on sale on O'Connell Street PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis arrives at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral during his visit to Ireland to attend the 2018 World Meeting of Families AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on O'Connell Street PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis addresses the congragation at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Stephen O'Brien selling bottles of holy water from the St Mary's Pro Cathedral PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis prays inside St Mary's Pro Cathedral Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures A man waves a rainbow flag behind a model of a pope which stands in the window above a bar Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures People hold a banner against Pope Francis on the way to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral AP Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Nuns wait by the side of the road for Pope Francis Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures A model of a pope is placed in the window above a bar as crowds wait for Pope Francis to travel through the city Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Crowds on O'Connell Street, Dublin waiting to see Pope Francis as he travels in the Popemobile PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis waves to wellwishers as he arrives at Dublin Airport Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures His visit, the first by a Pope since John Paul II's in 1979 is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of Catholics to a series of events in Dublin and Knock PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis talks to journalists aboard a plane flying from Fiumicino aiport to Dublin AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures LGBT protestors from Dublin Pride and We Are Church with flags and umbrellas on Ha'Penny Bridge, Dublin to remember the victims of clerical sex abuse ahead of the start of the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis disembarks from the aircraft as he arrives at Dublin Airport Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Woman wait for Pope Francis to drive past, in Dublin Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his two-day visit to Ireland, August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne CLODAGH KILCOYNE Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Taoiseach Leo Varadkar delivers a speech watched by Pope Francis in St. Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle WMOF2018/Maxwell Photography/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Protesters hold banners during a demonstration against clerical sex abuse, in Dublin Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis plants a tree during a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis walks with the President of Ireland Michael Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain WMOF2018/Maxwell Photography/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his two-day visit to Ireland, August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne CLODAGH KILCOYNE Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis, center, is flanked by Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, right, as they arrive to meet authorities, in Dublin AP Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Protestors wearing baby shoes, to signify the children who died in mother and baby homes in Ireland, protest in Dublin ahead of the start of the visit to Ireland by Pope Franci PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis exchanges gifts with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Pope Francis speaks with President Michael D Higgins in his study during a visit to Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Navy band march prior to the arrival of Pope Francis at the Presidential residence in Dublin AP Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures Eddie McGuinness from Dublin LGBTQ Pride carries a rainbow flag across Ha'Penny Bridge, Dublin ahead of the start of the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis PA Pope Francis visits Ireland – in pictures A message left by Pope Francis in the visitors book at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park PA

An in-depth interview Ní Riada gave to the Marian Finucane Show on RTE Radio 1 in July was a clear indication that the relatively unknown politician was being tested by the party in front of a national audience.

The interview was largely deemed a success, with Ní Riada laying out her ties to the cultural traditions and heritage of Ireland, and advocating for the country to work within the EU to effect results, instead of walking away as the UK has done.

She was challenged on how a Sinn Féin president would handle the delicate upcoming centenary commemorations of the war of independence, partition and the civil war, but she refused to be drawn. This may have served as a warning shot for some of the more difficult questioning she can expect in the upcoming contest.

In the interview, she also indicated that if she ran for president and was successful, that she would only serve one seven-year term.

The election on 26 October for the largely ceremonial office is expected to see popular incumbent Michael D Higgins returned for a second term, having earned the support of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour.

Sinn Féin have indicated they are happy with the job Higgins is going, but have decided to field a candidate to ensure he would not be re-elected unopposed.

At the last presidential election in 2011, Martin McGuinness was the Sinn Féin candidate, coming in third place with 13.7 per cent of the vote.

The party hopes to build on that vote this year, and to use the platform to voice wider national issues which often go undiscussed in general elections - namely, the growing prospect of a referendum on Irish unity, which may happen within the next president’s term.