The seven Sinn Féin candidates who will be contesting the local election in the three Municipal Districts in Laois (l-r): Helen Campion, Brian Stanley TD, Lorna Holohan Garry, MEP Chris Mc Manus (who is contesting the European elections), Maria McCormack, Aaron Kelly, cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley and Jason Phelan.
Missing from photo cllr Aidan Mullins.
By Joe Barrett
Laois Sinn Féin launched its local and EU election campaign in the Parish Centre Portlaoise last week.
Director of Elections in Laois Andrew Kelly said: “The Party is running seven candidates in the council elections on 7 June and two candidates in the European Parliament elections of the same day.
The two E U candidates are current MEP Chris Mc Manus and Michelle Gildernew MP.”
Aaron Kelly along with sitting councillor Aidan Mullins are contesting for two of the six seats in Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District.
Mr Kelly outlined to the meeting the work he has been involved with in recent years, in conjunction with cllr Mullins which included the completion of unfinished housing estates, road safety and improvements and housing.
In the seven seat Portlaoise Municipal District the party is standing three candidates. Sitting cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley will be running alongside first time candidates Maria McCormack and Jason Phelan. All underlined the urgent need to address the provision of affordable housing to buy and rent. They also made the case for improving local services and the provision of an indoor sports and basketball facility.
Cllr Dwane Stanley urged those present to ensure that the largest Sinn Féin team ever is elected as, “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ruled the roost for too long.”
Ms McCormack said that change starts at local level while Mr Phelan urged local people to use their vote to bring about change.
Another first-time candidate Helen Campion alongside Lorna Holohan Garry, who will be contesting her second local authority election, for positions on the six seats in the Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District Council.
Ms Campion outlined her work as a voluntary community activist. She said that all towns in the district had great potential for improvement and become important locations for tourism and festivals.
Ms Holohan Garry also gave an account of her voluntary work which included campaigning for the flood relief works to be accelerated in Mountmellick and Clonaslee along with the need for improvements in autism services.
MEP Chris Mc Manus said that among the most important issues are healthcare, housing, cost of living, Irish reunification and protecting our military neutrality. If elected, he committed to working with Michelle Gildernew and other SF MEPs in Europe to keep these issues to the fore.
Sinn Féin TD in Laois Brian Stanley said that the party, “have a great slate of candidates and this election is very important. Aidan Mullins and Caroline Dwane Stanley had achieved great things as councillors despite being just two out of 19. Imagine what we could achieve with seven out of 19 councillors.”
