ALIVE AND SOUL OF THE PARTY..

Mary Lou is back after op

- FERGHAL BLANEY

MARY Lou McDonald declared "rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated" as she returned to work following complicated surgery over the summer.

The Sinn Fein leader quoted American author, Mark Twain, when asked how serious the health scare was that saw her require a hysterectomy in June.

She also revealed she had received many well wishes from political rivals, including a bunch of flowers from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Ms McDonald was speaking to reporters at the opening of the party's think-in yesterday at Clayton Hotel on Cardiff Lane in Dublin, where she said: "I'm in great health.