SEANAD ELECTIONS | A HAT-TRICK FOR SINN FÉIN

Sinn Féin Seanad candidates: Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Kathryn Reilly, David Cullinane and Eoin Ó Broin

BY JOHN HEDGES

THE REPUBLICAN VOICE grew stronger in the corridors of power in the 26 Counties with the election in April of three new senators for Sinn Féin – David Cullinane, An Phoblacht columnist Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and Kathryn Reilly, at 22 the youngest member of the Oireachtas and the youngest-ever senator.
This brings the Oireachtas Sinn Féin numbers up to 17, following on the tremendous breakthrough with the election of 14 TDs in February.
Another An Phoblacht columnist, Eoin Ó Broin, was always up against the odds in the fiercely-contested National University of Ireland constituency and was outpolled by the high-profile figures of consultant oncologist John Crown and returning Senators Rónán Mullen and Feargal Quinn.
The first Sinn Féin senator to be elected was Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, to the Agricultural Panel.
The delighted west of Ireland activist from Galway West said:
“I look forward to playing an important role in Sinn Féin’s enlarged Leinster House team and to being a voice for the west of Ireland, rural farming and fishing communities and Irish-language speakers throughout the island.
“Lá mór é seo do mhuintir Chonamara, muintir na Gaillimhe agus muintir Shinn Féin ar fud na tíre. Tá ríméad orm a bheith tofa mar Sheanadóir. Beidh mé ag obair ar mhaithe le pobail iarthar na tíre, na feirmeoirí, na hiascairí, lucht na Gaeilge agus na tuaithe.”
Hot on the heels of Trevor was Waterford’s David Cullinane, who took a seat on the Labour Panel. David said it was a great day not just for Sinn Féin but for the people of the Déise County:
“Republican politics and ideals have never been more relevant and I intend to be a strong republican voice both inside the Seanad and out to put forward my party’s alternative vision of fairness and equality, of opposing the bank bail-outs and of EU/IMF interference in our fiscal affairs, of making the wealthy pay their fair share and of bringing an end to the stale, elitist brand of politics which has for so long dominated the political landscape.”
Young Kathryn Reilly secured her seat on the Industrial and Commercial Panel and the Cavan/Monaghan republican said:
“At 22 I am now the youngest member of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Many thousands of people my age are out of work and suffering the effects of Government austerity measures. It is now my job to be an advocate for them and for all the hundreds of thousands of people who are shouldering the burden of Government mismanagement of the economy.
“I believe that more young people should get involved in politics. We are the future and it is time to make our mark.”
Martin McGuinness MP said of the Sinn Féin treble in the Seanad and the election of14 TDs:
“We now have significant representation in every part of Ireland.
“Others talk about a united Ireland or go on photo opportunities to Dublin; Sinn Féin, on the other hand, provide real and effective leadership across this country.
“People can see an all-Ireland and united Ireland political strategy that is working and working well.”