BY C.J.McGINLEY
DONEGAL Sinn Féin has confirmed that it will select all its local election candidates, through a number of conventions throughout the county, on Sunday (November 3). The party will field candidates in all of the electoral areas in the county.
They include sitting county councillors Jack Murray, Marie Therese Gallagher and Mick Quinn, Letterkenny Town Councillor Gerry McMonagle, Bundoran Town Councillor Michael McMahon and Buncrana Town Councillor Ciaran McLaughlin Last week County Councillor Cora Harvey from Ballybofey, a former Mayor of Donegal County Council confirmed she will not contest next June’s elections.
The candidates include former Independent Fianna Fáil county councillor Albert Doherty from Carndonagh (
pictured)
The full list of candidates to go before the selection conventions is:
DONEGAL ELECTORAL AREA
Diarmaid Doherty
Diarmaid was born in Bundoran and has been married to Jill for nearly 30 years. He has four children and one grandchild who all live and work in Bundoran. Jill has worked in Bundoran library for 20 years and is actively involved in a variety of community groups and projects.
Like so many others Diarmaid left home at the age of 17 to find work in both Germany and England. In 1990 he returned back to Bundoran to start his own company which employs over 15 people.
As a serving member of Bundoran Town Council Diarmaid is a director of Waterworld and is also on the Joint Policy committee. Diarmaid is actively involved in a variety of community groups and project and has previous been the chairman of Bundoran Bord Na nOg for six years and managed the Ladies team for 4years
Diarmaid is hoping to join the existing group of Sinn Féin councillors on the County Council and if elected is committed to working tirelessly for the people of South Donegal. He hopes to combat the social issues of unemployment and forced emigration and ensure that the council’s budget is spent in a way that benefits the majority and not a select few. He would continue work towards our common goal of a united Ireland.
Stephen Thomas
Stephen Thomas is a native of the Donegal Town area, educated at St Francis’s Primary School and then attended the Abbey Vocational School where he completed his Leaving Certificate. Some time later he studied a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with Organisational Science at University of Ulster at Magee College Derry. He completed a Masters Degree in Applied Counselling Psychology at University of Ulster at Jordanstown.
Following graduation as a Counselling Psychologist, he was employed by a Cross-Community organisation called CALMS in Derry City. For the past decade, He has worked for the Health Service Executive, providing various services to young people. He has many years of experience completing housing applications, applying for benefits, pursuing rights and entitlements, and working with the various services within the public service.
Noel Jordan
Noel Jordan, from Mountcharles is a married father of two. He is currently employed as a grounds worker with JJ Contracts.
Heavily involved in local community, Noel is a keen GAA supporter.
Noel is also well known in the music and entertainment scene, having worked in the industry for years in the South West Donegal Area.
Noel is deeply involved in community work and serves as Chairperson of both the Mountcharles Community Centre and Mountcharles Community Development Committee.
Michael McMahon
Michael is well known in his community of Bundoran, having been a Member of Bundoran Town Council for the last 15 years.
Michael has always done his best for everyone in the community and indeed in the county irrespective of their political or religious background. He continues to work and negotiate with all sides of the political divide and have always represented the best interests of the ordinary man and woman without fear or favour.
He is currently the Chairman of Waterworld in the town and has had the privilege of serving as Mayor of Bundoran on two occasions
Michael is heavily involved in the GAA and has been Chairperson, PRO and Treasurer of his local GAA club Réalt na Mará.
Michael is extremely passionate about the rights of the Undocumented Irish in America and he has worked tirelessly on their behalf.
GLENTIES ELECTORAL AREA
MARIE THERESE GALLAGHER
Dungloe based Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher, mother of one, will go forward for selection for Sinn Fein in Glenties Electoral Area. Marie Therese has been a member of Donegal County Council for 6 years, being co-opted to council following Deputy Pearse Dohertys election to Seanad Eireann. Marie Therese has served as deputy Mayor of the county, she also represents Donegal on the Board of the Border Regional assembly, and the board of the Border,Midlands and Western regional Assembly. Marie Therese has consistently highlighted local and county issues within the Council Chamber, and has led out on local campaigns of infrastructural projects as well as rural Health campaigns.
John Sheamais ó Fearrigh,
John Sheamais Ó Fearraigh currently works as a Youth Officer with Óige na Gaeltachta,
He lives in Bunaleaca, Gaoth Dobhar and is married to Bernadette with whom he has three children; Carl, Leonie and Keely.
John Sheamais is a passionate Cainteoir Duchas, (Native Irish Speaker).
He is a member of the following groups in his community: CLG Gaoth Dobhar/ Gweedore GAA, CNNG, Bord stiúrtha, Cummann Sinn Féin Padraig Mhicheal Airt, Gaoth Dobhar. He is Cathoirleach of Naoinra ChnocFola, John Sheamais enjoys refereeing, playing darts and attending GAA games.
STRANORLAR ELECTORAL AREA
CHRISTINA MCGRANAGHAN
Christina McGranaghan is 28 years old and currently lives in Ballybofey although originally from neighbouring village, Killygordon.
Christina graduated from the National University of Ireland Galway with a BA (Hons) in Legal Science and Sociological and Political Studies in 2005 before completing a postgraduate Law Degree (LLB). Developing a passion for social justice, she worked as an intern with the Free Legal Advice Centre in Dublin and in the Ballymun Community Law Centre before moving to Belfast in 2008 to complete her masters in Human Rights and Criminal Justice from Queens University.
Having spent much of her young life in education and work away from home, Christina returned to her native Donegal in 2009. She worked as a production planner in Donegal Creameries in Killygordon before securing her current position as Constituency Political Advisor to Pearse Doherty TD.
She is the secretary of the John James Kelly/ Damien Brolly Sinn Féin Cumann in Castlefinn, secretary of the Local Area Committee and a member of the officer board of the Comhairle Ceantair.
Christina has been active in local campaigns, particularly against the property tax, cuts to Education and to Health. She also helped conduct a crime survey on behalf of Sinn Féin which highlighted the growing concern with crime and anti social behaviour in our local communities. She is a member of the St Joseph’s Community Hospital Action Group and Robert Emmets GAA club in Castlefinn.
GARY DOHERTY.
Gary Doherty is 31 years old, married to Louise and father of three children, Darragh (10), Aoife (8) and Conor (8 months). He has a BA Hons in Irish History & Politics from the University of Ulster and qualifications in Media and Journalism from the North West College in Derry. He has been a Sinn Féin member since 1999 and I has been Chair of the John James Kelly/Damien Brolly Cumann in Castlefinn since 2007.
He has co-ordinated local republican commemorations and chaired the Easter Commemoration in Castlefinn for the last decade. He is a member of a popular local band called The Heads of State which has played gigs and festivals extensively throughout Donegal and Ireland in the last five years. Their records are played on Highland Radio daily and the band featured in all the local newspapers regularly. Gary has been involved in amateur dramatics in the past and most recently worked as a youth music and drama facilitator in the Balor Arts Centre. He has been involved with the GAA for almost the entirety of his life including playing, managing and coaching young people from ages 3-18.
LETTERKENNY ELECTORAL AREA
Gerry McMonagle
Gerry was elected to Letterkenny Town Council in 2004 and re-elected in 2009. From that time he has worked very diligently on behalf of the people of Letterkenny bringing in many community initiatives through Council motions. Gerry is the Vice Chairperson of Letterkenny’s Joint Policing Committee and also a member of the councils Municipal Policy Committee and is also a member of the Roads SPC and in October2013 he was elected onto the AMAI Executive . Gerry is also a long time director on the Letterkenny CDP management committee were he is very much involved in local community work. In 2011 Gerry was elected as Mayor of Letterkenny that year also seen Gerry take on the challenge of the Gaelforce North event and has continued his fitness training taking part in many charitable fundraisers. he is currently a member of Letterkenny Cycling Club and Chairperson of Glencar Celtic Football Club and is also a member of Letterkennys No1 Celtic Supporters Club.Gerry is also currently the Chairperson of the Board of the Aura Leisure Centre.
Gerry through his work with Abhaile Aris has been involved in a lot of Peace and Reconciliation work working with many groups throughout the border regions helping to build relationships and sustain Peace.
Mick Quinn
Mick Quinn lives in Churchill. He is married to Eileen and they have three children, Aoife, Niamh and Cian.
Mick has worked with the HSE for almost 30 years, with many of these years spent in the role of Community Welfare Officer serving both Donegal and Leitrim.
Mick has served as chairperson of IMPACT Trade Union in Donegal. He has also served as Chairperson of Donegal Sinn Féin from 2004 -2008.
A keen angler, Mick is a founding member and former chairperson of the Churchill and District Anglers. He is the former chairperson of the Churchill Community Games Committee, and has participated in numerous fundraising projects over the years for local education facilities.
Mick also helped conduct a crime survey on behalf of Sinn Féin which highlighted the growing concern with crime and anti-social behaviour in our local communities.?
A tireless campaigner for those affected by austerity Mick has campaigned on man issues including, unfinished estates, medical card and social welfare entitlements rural transport and worker’s rights.
Mick is currently a member of Donegal County Council’s Water and Environment Strategic Policy Committee, Coiste na Gaeilge, Letterkenny & District Trades Council, Donegal County Council Cultural Committee and the Joint Policing Committee.
INISHOWEN
Albert Doherty
Albert Doherty is currently the Secretary of the Carndonagh/Malin Sinn Fein Cumann and Treasurer of Inishowen Sinn Fein.
Albert has a history of political activity and served as a County Councilor for the Inis Eoghain Electoral Area from 1999 until 2004.
He is currently the Principal of St. Patrick’s Boys National School, Carndonagh.
Well known in his local community, Albert is Vice-Chairman of Carndonagh Football Club and played soccer, gaelic football and hurling for local town and parish teams.
He is also a member of his local church choir, drama club and musical society
Ciaran McLaughlin
Ciaran McLaughlin is currently a member of Buncrana Town Council, having served since 2011 after replacing Pádraig Mac Lochlainn who vacated the seat following his election to the Dáil.
He is married to Majella and they have three sons and one daughter.
Ciaran has worked at AnDoras for nine years and is a former team leader. He is presently studying to complete an ECDL course.
Ciaran is well known for his community involvement in his hometown and is Chairman of his local residents’ group in the Meadows, Buncrana. He is also a member of the Parents’ Committee in the local Gaelscoil and serves as the Committee’s Representative on the Board of Management.
He is also Chairperson of the Mac Lochlainn/O’Hagan Sinn Féin Cumann in Buncrana.
An avid golfer, Ciaran is currently the Vice-Captain of Buncrana Golf Club.
Jack Murray
Jack Murray, from Burnfoot is 28 years old and has been involved in politics throughout his entire adult life. While in college, studying Irish History and Politics, he served as chairperson of Magee University’s Sinn Féin society before becoming Director of Publicity for Sinn Féin in Newry and Armagh. He was later appointed as a Political Advisor in the Stormont Assembly before returning home to Donegal where he was employed as a youth worker with Abhaile Arís.
Jack became a county councillor in 2011 – replacing Pádraig MacLochlainn after his successful election to the Dáil.
During his time on the council Jack served as Chairperson of Donegal’s Roads & Transportation Strategic Policy Committee and as member of the Northwest Regional Cross Border Group, Vocational Education Committee (VEC), Education and Training Board (ETB), County Development Board and the City of Derry Airport Committee. He was also the youngest ever chairperson of the Inishowen Electoral Area Committee.
Jack is a playing member of Burt GAA and a Director at I.C.A.R.E.
In order to further his effectiveness as a local representative, Jack recently completed a Certificate in Local Government Studies and is currently continuing the course into Diploma level through distance learning with the IPA in UCD.
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