Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has offered his warm congratulation to Sheila Busher and Warren O’Toole, who have been selected to contest the 2024 local elections as the Sinn Féin candidates for the Arklow Area.
Brady said:
“I am delighted to be able to announce that Shiela Busher and Warren O’Toole have been selected at convention to contest the local elections on June 7th for Sinn Féin in the Arklow Area.
Shiela is a native of Arklow, where she married and raised four children. A veteran community activist, she has spent fifteen years on the front line fighting for families, and the marginalised in her community. She studied Community Youth Work in UCC, and Maynooth. Sheila is currently involved with the Drugs Task Force and Arklow Positive Ageing Committee. Shiela not only brings a wealth of experience to the campaign, but she also brings drive, determination, and compassion. She will be an excellent advocate for the people of South Wicklow.
Warren a native of Arklow, and the parent of a son with Down Syndrome and Autism, and has advocated for people with disabilities for over two decades. Warren is a dynamic individual committed to delivering change for South Wicklow. He is passionate about the outdoors and has a vision for substantial growth in nature friendly recreation. Warren is an individual with the capacity to bring fresh ideas, energy, and vision to Wicklow County Council. He is deeply aware of the need for a comprehensive plan for South Wicklow, with the levels of investment needed for the jobs, housing, and infrastructure that can provide a future for young people in the area.
Both Shiela and Warren are formidable advocates for their local communities and are two people who I believe have real potential to make a big impact on local politics here in Wicklow.
The fact that they will form part of the largest ever Sinn Féin team put forward at a local election in County Wicklow, is a measure of the demand for change that is growing across the county.
The local elections, which will take place on the same day as the EU elections, represent an opportunity for the electorate in Wicklow to put in place a team committed to bringing about change, to sending a clear and unambiguous message to the government.
A message that lets them know that the people of this county have had enough of the failure to address the housing crisis, the cost-of-living crisis, and the neglect of our health service.
Shiela and Warren will be at the forefront of that campaign to bring about change.
Speaking following her selection Shiela Busher said:
“It is an absolute privilege to be given the honour by my party colleagues of going forward as one of our two local election candidates here in the South Wicklow area.
For the past fifteen years I have been dedicated to serving my community. I am committed to serving the people of Arklow, Aughrim, Rathdrum and beyond. I want to see the development of our community, we badly need to see investment in jobs, housing, and local services. We need to provide young people with the hope that they can have a future here.
Warren O’Toole said:
“I want to echo the sentiments expressed by Shiela. It is absolutely an honour, and one which comes with a great sense of responsibility to our local community.
South Wicklow has faced neglect for a long time. I believe our community is crying out for a strong voice. I have seen firsthand through my own experience the years of government neglect and indifference towards South Wicklow. Our area needs investment in jobs, housing, and infrastructure. It needs a plan committed to providing a future for young people in the area.
I am proud to have been selected as part of the Sinn Féin team selected to contest this June’s local elections. We, along with our colleague John Brady TD, are committed to bringing new ideas, energy, and vision to politics in Wicklow. We believe that as a team, we can bring about the change capable of positively impacting across all of Wicklow, and in particular in towns, villages, and communities across South Wicklow.”