Ex-O/C of Long Kesh POWs appeals to everyone to help boost sales

Sinn Féin National Draw – Building locally, building nationally

SEÁN LYNCH, newly-elected Sinn Féin Assembly member for Fermanagh/South Tyrone and former Officer Commanding the IRA prisoners in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh, is appealing for every Sinn Féin area to set themselves a target of selling at least a third more Sinn Féin National Draw tickets than last year.
In Seán’s own county of Fermanagh, the draw is an intrinsic part of the Comhairle Ceantair’s year-round programme of work.
“We have a target of 2,000 draw tickets each year,” he told ‘An Phoblacht’. “Each cumann or area has its target and we reckon if we really put a big effort in we could sell around 3,000. In 2004, we sold 2,500 so it can be done and we’re hoping to achieve at least that once again.”
Seán Lynch said the National Draw is a vital component in the area’s fund-raising strategy and it should be seen that way all over Ireland, from Antrim to Waterford.
“With a sale of 2,000 we make approximately £9,000 for the local Sinn Féin organisation’s activities.
“Sales are door to door, carried out like a political canvass in our ‘green vote’ areas. Some people don’t like selling but everyone is asked to take at least five tickets to sell to family and close friends or work colleagues.
“Myself and others try and build up a route over the years and many republican supporters are expecting us in September and they see it as their practical contribution to the party each year as well as a good bet.”
Although the draw takes place in October, Fermanagh get their tickets out in July and August.
“I’ll have to sell mine over the next couple of weeks because I’ll be back in the Assembly in September,” Seán said. ‘There’s no excuses,” he smiled. “No excuses for anyone not to sell some.”

Seán Lynch

Leading from the front

ON active service with the IRA in April 1986, Seán Lynch was seriously wounded by the SAS and fellow IRA Volunteer Séamus McElwain was shot dead in Fermanagh when SAS troopers opened fire on them as they prepared to ambush a British Army patrol with a huge landmine.
In December that year he was sentenced by a Diplock non-jury court to 25 years for possession of explosives and a rifle. He was transferred to Long Kesh from Crumlin Road Jail after time in Musgrave Military Hospital.
Seán became O/C of the IRA prisoners in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh and was released in October 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, having served 12 years of his 25-year sentence.
On his release, he became an organiser for Sinn Féin.