Three more candidates declare intention to run in Local election for Sligo-Strandhill area
VOTERS in the Sligo-Strandhill municipal district have three further candidates to consider in the upcoming Local Elections.
Seamus Kilgannon (Fianna Fail), Finbarr Filan (Independent) and Diarmuid McConville (Independent) have all been added to the ballot for the June 7 election.
Seamus Kilgannon is no stranger to local politics having previously served on as a councillor in the former Sligo Municipal District which was broken up into Sligo-Strandhill and Sligo-Drumcliffe municipal districts in 2019. Kilgannon ran in the Sligo-Drumcliffe area in 2019 and narrowly missed out on election. He is now running in Sligo-Strandhill as he is based in this municipal district.
Finbarr Filan is running in his second local election and third overall election having also contested the 2020 General Election. He represented Renua on both previous occasions but has now thrown his hat in the ring as an Independent candidate.
Finbarr believes that the next five years are crucial to Sligo. From his ongoing voluntary work for a number of community and business organisations, Finbarr has seen the steady progress in various areas that are positive indicators for Sligo.
Finbarr believes that if this momentum is capitalised on, Sligo will be a better place for all.
Amongst the many areas of work that Finbarr is involved in, the following achievements are recognised as being highly positive for Sligo: Finbarr led the team that brought a gold medal to Sligo with Tidy Towns, that moved Sligo to the 3rd tidiest town in Ireland with Irish Business League Against Litter, expanded the St Patrick’s Day to a 3-day festival and has expanded the annual Christmas lights programme as part of Sligo BID’s work every year since 2017.
Diarmuid McConville, also running as an Independent candidate, may be a less recognisable name and face to the people of Sligo - but many will know him for the ‘Straw Man’ persona he has adopted, along with his drum, to address members of the public in Sligo and other regional towns about issues surrounding immigration and the dangers of technology.
Mr McConville is simultaneously running for election in Manorhamilton.
Meanwhile, despite an extensive search for a running mate in the Sligo Drumcliffe electoral area Sinn Féin have been unable to find someone willing to put their name forward.
Outgoing councillor Thomas Healy has been nominated as anticipated and he acknowledged that it was “a disappointment” to be the only candidate nominated.
While honoured to be selected he said it was a disappointment to be the only candidate nominated for Sligo Drumcliffe.
“I have spoken with a number of people who would all have made fantastic County Councillors and would have helped Sinn Féin expand and deepen our political delivery.
“Unfortunately, despite honest discussions and debates, none of these individuals are able to commit to the role of county councillor for family or work reasons.
“I have been very honest with people about how busy the role is but it is a sad reflection on politics that so few people want to take it on.”
“I delayed the holding of a convention until now in order to give us the best chance of identifying a second candidate, I remain hopeful that we may yet have a second candidate before close of nominations in May, but it is time to start the campaign.”
He said it would be a “seismic election which may well have historic repercussions for Irish politics”.
He added: “For my own part I will be standing on my record of hard work and commitment and delivering for individuals and communities the length and breadth of the constituency.”