Louis O’Hara, who performed impressively in the 2020 election, has again been chosen to stand for Sinn Féin in Galway East at the next General Election.
Mr O’Hara was chosen following a selection convention held over Zoom on Monday evening. The convention was convened by a representative from the West Cúige of Sinn Féin and also addressed by Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane. O’Hara defeated his party colleague Stiofán de Lundres O’Dálaigh following a postal vote involving all Sinn Féin members based in the constituency.
Prepared
In the February 2020 General Election, Mr O’Hara secured 16.7 percent of the first preference votes and lasted until the eighth and final count. Speaking after the convention, Mr O’Hara said:
“Although the next General Election is not scheduled to happen for a few years, given the many controversies this Government have been involved in, not least the current investigation into the Tánaiste, it could happen sooner rather than later.
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“Therefore, it is important we are prepared, and I will be working hard to deliver Sinn Féin’s message to as many people as possible across the constituency over the coming months and years to show that there is an alternative to the failed politics of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in Galway East.”
Government of the Left
Mr O’Hara said the next election will be an opportunity to have a Government without the involvement of FG or FF. “Opinion polls have shown that a Government of the Left, led by Sinn Féin, is a very real prospect,” he said. “We will be running enough candidates next time to capitalize on that support and put us in a position to lead the next Government.”
He said that as the State emerges from the pandemic, it will be “essential” to have a Government that will “put the needs of workers and families before those of big business and vested interests”.
