Central Mayo candidate Donna Hyland launches local election campaign

Sinn Féin’s Donna Hyland has launched her local election campaign.

The young nurse and mother from Manulla is seeking to win a seat in the Castlebar area in June’s local elections, where she will have to unseat one of the current councillors, who are all seeking re-election.

Bucko’s Bar in Castlebar was full to the brim last Saturday night as friends and supporters of Ms Hyland gathered for her campaign launch. 

The atmosphere of support and energy was obviously present as the Sinn Féin candidate took to the stage to set out her vision for local government. 

Selected last July by her party to contest the local elections, Ms Hyland has already been speaking to local people, raising their concerns and ‘learning about what constituents expect from a local county councillor.’

In her campaign launch speech she took the opportunity to propose to the audience to vote for change on June 7.  

“Local people have been clear on what they want from the next government and that is a change in housing policy which Sinn Féin are committed to delivering locally and nationally” said Ms Hyland.

She said she will be ‘advocating for increased social and affordable homes’.

Continuing to speak on housing, Ms Hyland called ‘the scourge’ of the defective concrete block crisis ‘awful’, and said she will be campaigning for ‘a 100% redress scheme for affected homeowners and no less’.

The Castlebar based nurse alluded to her experience, pledging to be a ‘strong voice in raising local healthcare issues’, and said that her familiarity with the system sets her apart from other candidates. 

Addressing her love for where she lives, Ms Hyland acknowledged that the Castlebar municipal district is ‘crying out’ for resources. 

“Whether it’s a new athletics track for the county town, increased investments in active transport routes, or whether rural dwellers are respected and have access to basic services like GP services, Garda stations and other amenities, I will prioritise the development of our local area if elected to Mayo County Council” said Hyland.

Speaking after the event, Rose Conway-Walsh TD said their party needs a ‘strong team of councillors in Mayo County Council to deliver for people’.

She spoke highly of her fellow Sinn Féin member, the Mayo TD said Ms Hyland ‘will work hard to represent Castlebar’.  

“Her nursing experience combined with a strong work ethic will enable her to work diligently as a county councillor implementing Sinn Féin policies that will make a real difference in peoples’ lives” concluded Ms Conway-Walsh.