Members and supporters of Wicklow Sinn Féin gathered last night in the Glenview Hotel, the Glen of the Downs for the launch of their 2024 local and European election campaign.
The Sinn Féin team of eleven candidates were joined by EU election candidate for Ireland South Kathleen Funchion, along with Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady. Marked by energy and enthusiasm there was a real sense of energy and commitment to achieving change in the county.
The Sinn Féin team of candidates for the local elections are:
· Denise Cahill Bray East, Cllrs. Mick Ryan and Dermot O’Brien Bray West
· Esther Kelly and Brian Fogarty Greystones
· Abbie O’Loughlin and Anthony Hill Wicklow East
· Sheila Busher and Warren O’Toole Arklow
· have Adian Kinsella and Connor Byrne Baltinglass
EU election candidate Kathleen Funchion said:
“This is a very exciting time to be a Sinn Féin candidate, and the atmosphere at the launch was absolutely fantastic.
The team that Wicklow are putting forward in the county for the local elections next month are a strong team, they are team ambitious to bring about change, they are a team committed to prioritising the issues that matter to the people of Wicklow.
My own decision to contest the EU election was based on my commitment to ensuring that Wicklow, and the wider Eastern region is given proper representation in the EU Parliament, that the region has a voice to ensure that it is not ignored in terms of investment and economic development as has so often been the case in the past”
Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady said:
“Right across Wicklow we are standing the largest team of Sinn Féin candidates we have ever stood; they are eleven fantastic candidates.
They bring great experience, energy, passion and dedication to their communities and a desire to make the real change that people right across Wicklow want and deserve.
It was also great to hear my friend and colleague Kathleen Funchion who is our Candidate in the European Elections address the campaign launch.
Kathleen along with Paul Galvin are our two candidates in the EU election for the Ireland South constituency.
Out team here in the county are -in the West Aidan Kinsella, and Connor Byrne, In Arklow Sheila Busher and Warren O’Toole, in Wicklow East Abbie O’Loughlin, and Anthony Hill, in Greystones Esther Kelly and Brian Fogarty, and in Bray we are running Denise Cahill, and our two sitting Cllrs, Cllr Mick Ryan, and Cllr Dermot ‘Daisy’ O’Brien.
We had a great crowd here in the Glenview, and it was great to see so many familiar faces from across the county, along with new supporters, all committed to help bring the Sinn Féin message to voters across Wicklow in the coming weeks.
Coming after a national candidate launch last weekend where we had just under a 1,000 candidates and supporters gathered to kick start our national campaign, it is very clear that our party knows that we have the capacity to deliver the change that the people of Wicklow want and demand.
This coming EU and local elections are the most important for a generation. Coming as they do after thirteen years of Fine Gael in government, and eight years of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael hand in hand as they pass the mantle of power between them as if it is their gift to do so.
The time has come for change and as I look at the team of Sinn Féin candidates I know this is the team that can deliver change for Wicklow.
There is no doubt that communities right across the state are under serious pressure, there is a very real and tangible sense of crisis emerging.
But we have reason for optimism, the levers for change are in front of us, people can begin the process by voting for Sinn Féin in June.
There will be a general election in the coming months.
We in Sinn Féin want to grasp the mettle of the challenges that face our communities.
We want to build more houses, we want to develop a health service that works, we want to re-invigorate local communities, we want to bring forward solutions that will address the cost-of-living crisis for workers and their families.
We can deliver.
The route to change starts here. It begins with the election of a team of Cllrs passionate about serving their community, who will deliver for communities, and who will bring an end to the cosy arrangements that have marked the relationship of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael here in Wicklow down through the years.
I appeal to people to ensure that they are registered to vote, to ensure that they are part of the drive for change. To use that vote to put in place a team here in Wicklow with the passion, the drive, and the commitment to deliver for you.”