The Mayo Sinn Féin Selection Convention held in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, on Sunday last resulted in four candidates being chosen to contest next year's local elections. Cllr Toireasa Ferris chaired the convention which selected Cllr Gerry Murray to contest the Claremorris area, Cllr Rose Conway-Walsh to contest the West Mayo area, Cllr Thérése Ruane to contest the Castlebar area, and John Sheahan to contest the Ballina area.
Sheahan will join a ticket that includes sitting Mayo county councillors Rose-Conway Walsh and Gerry Murray, and current Castlebar town councillor Thérése Ruane. The Swinford native who works in the disability sector has a long record of community involvement, especially in local sporting clubs. Sheahan is also the current chairperson of Mayo Sinn Féin.
The convention chairperson said, “We are delighted that for the first time ever in local elections, Sinn Féin will contest all areas in Mayo. Voters will have an opportunity to vote for real and lasting change. Strengthening the Sinn Féin team on Mayo County Council will enable us to represent people right across this county. The individual and collective vigour and capacity of the Sinn Féin candidates here in Mayo is second to none. We have selected four candidates to win four seats.”
Also speaking at the convention was Sinn Féin EU candidate Matt Carthy who said, “I have been working with the Sinn Féin team here in Mayo for the past number of years advancing solutions to the economic crisis and standing up for rural communities. I look forward to continuing that work and ensuring people of Mayo have a real strong voice in Europe. All four candidates in Mayo are firmly committed to Sinn Féin’s vision of an Ireland of equals and to the principles of equality, justice, and rights for all within a united Ireland.”
