11 April 2002 Edition
Sinn Féin select Galway East candidate
Sinn Féin in Galway East have selected Daithí Mac a' Bhaird as their candidate in the forthcoming general election. Mac a'Bhaird was selected at a convention in Loughrea on Saturday 6 April attended by delegates from across the constituency.
Councillor Pat Treanor, Chairperson of Sinn Féin in Connaught Ulster, presided and Ballinasloe's Dermot Connolly chaired. The guest speaker was Assembly member Barry McElduff, Chairperson of Omagh District Council. Sinn Féin is now contesting all seats in Connaught Ulster.
"It is a great honour for me to be chosen as the candidate for this constituency' Mac a' Bhaird told delegates after being selected with a unanimous vote. "This is the constituency associated with Liam Mellows, a constituency with a long republican tradition and one that for too long has been deprived of a republican representative. In the last referendum, East Galway sent a clear message to the government: they will no longer be told how to vote, they reject the old politics and are ready for change.
"Sinn Féin is offering that change. We will be the story of this election throughout the 26 counties. Youth is on our side and we have the wisdom of all those years of struggle and dedication to guide us. I feel privileged that East Galway republicans have selected me as their candidate and now I go forward to ask the people of the constituency to vote for me also."
Daithí Mac a'Bhaird was proposed by Michael Loughrey (Shanaglish) and seconded by Dermot Connolly (Ballinasloe), both previous candidates for Sinn Féin. He has been active in organisational work with the party in the constituency since moving to Galway four years ago and is completing a Masters degree in NUIG, where he has been Cathaoirleach of Sinn Féin for the past two years.
Councillor Pat Treanor, Chairperson of Sinn Féin in Connaught Ulster, presided and Ballinasloe's Dermot Connolly chaired. The guest speaker was Assembly member Barry McElduff, Chairperson of Omagh District Council. Sinn Féin is now contesting all seats in Connaught Ulster.
"It is a great honour for me to be chosen as the candidate for this constituency' Mac a' Bhaird told delegates after being selected with a unanimous vote. "This is the constituency associated with Liam Mellows, a constituency with a long republican tradition and one that for too long has been deprived of a republican representative. In the last referendum, East Galway sent a clear message to the government: they will no longer be told how to vote, they reject the old politics and are ready for change.
"Sinn Féin is offering that change. We will be the story of this election throughout the 26 counties. Youth is on our side and we have the wisdom of all those years of struggle and dedication to guide us. I feel privileged that East Galway republicans have selected me as their candidate and now I go forward to ask the people of the constituency to vote for me also."
Daithí Mac a'Bhaird was proposed by Michael Loughrey (Shanaglish) and seconded by Dermot Connolly (Ballinasloe), both previous candidates for Sinn Féin. He has been active in organisational work with the party in the constituency since moving to Galway four years ago and is completing a Masters degree in NUIG, where he has been Cathaoirleach of Sinn Féin for the past two years.