At their latest selection convention held at the TF Castlebar on Friday last, July 7, Mayo Sinn Féin selected Donna Hyland as their first candidate to stand in Castlebar LEA, and Úna Morris as their first candidate to stand in Ballina LEA for next year’s local elections.
Mayo Sinn Fein stated: "Living in Manulla, Donna is married to Séan Hyland and together they raise their four children on the family farm. Donna is a nurse by profession and has served her co-workers as a workplace representative. She is well known within the trade union movement and has previously served two terms on the National Executive of the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation.
"Donna has been actively involved in community affairs in the Castlebar area, and is a board member of the South West Mayo Development Company, and has given her time freely to co-ordinate successful community projects and established community education initiatives which are still ongoing today. She is a current member of the Housing SPC at Mayo County Council.
"Donna has been a Sinn Féin activist for many years. She is the Castlebar Sinn Féin rúnaí (secretary ) and she has played a key role in the party’s election campaigns in Co. Mayo. She is passionate about helping people and if elected, will be a strong voice for all in the Castlebar municipal district."
Donna Hyland said: “As someone who comes from a farming background, I have a deep interest in safeguarding rural communities and ensuring that there is balanced infrastructural development. I intend to be a strong voice for all in the Castlebar municipal district, to join the team in continuing the Sinn Féin call for investment in healthcare services and housing, and in reducing the impact of the cost of living crisis.”
Speaking at the selection convention, she said “I am grateful to the members of Castlebar Sinn Féin and Mayo Sinn Féin for their support. I am looking forward to the campaign ahead of us and to ensuring that a Sinn Féin representative is returned to Mayo County Council.”
Mayo Sinn Fein continued: "Úna Morris is chair of Gaughan Lynn Stagg cumann in Ballina and a member of Mayo Sinn Féin officer board. Originally from Dublin, she is married to Denis Quinn and lives near Killala with her family. She was a union shop steward while working at the Western People, and Irish Press Newspapers.
"A member of Killala Community Council since 2013, she has been involved in many arts, heritage and tourism-based events including the 2013 Gathering festival ‘In Humbert’s Footsteps’. She helped set up Killala Foroige and Killala Bay Folk Club, chaired the Killala Community Futures programme in 2014 and campaigned for Marriage Equality and Repeal.
"Úna works for Rose Conway-Walsh TD in Ballina, where her main role is constituency work. She believes that in order to thrive, communities need to be empowered with proper infrastructure, public transport, affordable housing, childcare and healthcare, and access to the same economic possibilities as the rest of the country."
Úna Morris said: “As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit, more people are struggling to meet basic needs. Living with deprivation or having to fight for everything your child needs is hugely draining. Poverty is hard work, and expensive. When you’re struggling to survive, you don’t get a chance to thrive.
“We need healthcare that is properly resourced and staffed – in Mayo we have long waiting lists, elderly and infirm people on trollies for hours, children with additional needs waiting years for services, carers not receiving supports, families unable to access respite services, old people can’t get home help.”
“I’m proud to stand as a Sinn Féin candidate in next years’ local elections and I’m very grateful for all the support of our hardworking group of local activists. If elected, I will do my absolute best for everyone living in the greater Ballina area.”
Speaking at the convention, Rose Conway-Walsh TD said: “We are delighted to add two more really strong women candidates to the Ballina and Castlebar Local Election ticket. Along with Rosaleen Lally (Belmullet ) and Karen Gallagher (Westport ), Sinn Féin in Mayo is offering constituents an opportunity for real change in next year’s council elections. Other candidates will be added in these areas as we progress towards 2024. I know that if they are elected, these four women will make a significant difference to Mayo County Council and the constituents they serve. I look forward to campaigning with them in the months ahead.”
