Louth Sinn Féin hold conventions to finalise their team of candidates
Louth Sinn Féin has formally selected three candidates for Mid Louth LEA and Drogheda Rural/Urban constituencies for the 2024 Local Council Elections to be held in June of this year. The conventions were held in the Grove in Dunleer.
In Mid-Louth, sitting councillor Pearse McGeough will be joined by ardent campaigner Kitty Colbert from Ardee and Phyllis Murphy, a grandmother and small business owner from Duffy’s Cross in Gilbertstown.
Cllr McGeough said “Kitty and Phyllis are first time candidates who are eager to effect change in the Mid-Louth area and know only too well the challenges that face people in a rural area on a daily basis. This includes lack of investment in infrastructure, road network, access to healthcare and childcare to name a few and I am confident that these two candidates will be effective extra voices for change in the mid-Louth area.”
In Drogheda Rural, Cllr Tom Cunningham will be joined by former boxer Eric Donovan. Eric is working in the area of mental health and has made it his passion since retiring from the ring in November 2022. Cllr Cunningham said “I am delighted to be joined by Eric whom I have known for several years. He retired from boxing as the reigning EU Super Featherweight Champion and I was at the ringside at his last fight. I’m sure he won’t mind me saying it, but he looked as if he was beaten in the earlier rounds but this is a man with passion and stamina and a ‘never give up’ spirit which brought him victory in the end. That spirit is what we need in Drogheda Rural and I was happy to nominate Eric last year for a Civic Award for all his hard work in the area of mental health and well-being.”
Drogheda Urban will also see a first time candidate in Joanne Thompson who will be joining
Laura Clinton from Moneymore and sitting Councillor Joanna Byrne in the race.
Cllr Byrne said “I have known Joanne for more years than I care to admit to and she is a very determined person. She loves history and culture and is active on the boards of the Old Drogheda Society and the Drogheda Museum. Joanne is determined to see tourism within Drogheda developed. She is also aware of the issues a lot of people face as a woman who was forced to return to work when her children were small because of economic necessity. To sum her up, she is a mother who wants a better Drogheda for her children to grow up in.”
Also present on the night was
Michelle Gildernew who will be running as Sinn Féin’s MEP candidate.
Speaking after the convention, Imelda Munster TD said “we have a strong team in Drogheda and Mid-Louth and indeed across the county. Sinn Fein is consistent in our representation and are a voice to those who feel they are not being heard. We want people to know that ‘we hear you’ but we need to increase our representation in the Council chamber to effect any real change. We need to deliver real and meaningful politics but to do that we need the support of the voters. We have new candidates for June and I know they all have something different to bring to the table.”
Sinn Féin Candidates: Ardee LEA – Pearse McGeough, Kitty Colbert, Phyllis Murphy. Drogheda Urban – Laura Cinton, Joanna Byrne, Joanne Thompson.
Drogheda Rural – Tom Cunningham, Eric Donovan. Dundalk South – Kevin Meenan, Aideen Smith, Jimmy Myers, Sionainn McCann. Dundalk Carlingford – Antóin Watters, Fiona Mhic Conchoille, Kathleen Byrne, Seán Ó Broin.