Two more female candidates added to Sinn Féin election ticket

Sinn Féin have selected two further female candidates to run in the Ballina and Castlebar electoral areas in next year's local election.

At their latest selection convention in the TF in Castlebar last Friday, Mayo Sinn Féin selected Donna Hyland as their first candidate to stand in Castlebar Local Electoral Area, and Úna Morris as their first candidate to stand in Ballina Local Electoral Area for next year’s local elections.

Mother of four, Donna Hyland lives in Manulla and is a nurse by profession and is well known within the trade union movement and has previously served two terms on the National Executive of the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation.

Úna Morris is chair of Gaughan Lynn Stagg Cumann in Ballina and a member of Mayo Sinn Féin officer board. Originally from Dublin, she is married to Denis Quinn and lives near Killala with her family. She currently works in Rose Conway-Walsh's constituency office in Ballina and was a union shop steward while working at the Western People, and Irish Press newspapers.

The two female candidates are the latest to join the Mayo Sinn Féin ticket ahead of next year's local election with Rosaleen Lally already selected to run in the Belmullet Electoral Area and Karen Gallagher in the Westport Electoral Area.

Sinn Féin only has one sitting councillor in Gerry Murray after a disappointing 2019 local elections but speaking at the convention, Rose Conway-Walsh TD said the party was looking forward to running more candidates and winning seats.

Strong candidates

“We are delighted to add two more really strong women candidates to the Ballina and Castlebar local election ticket. Along with Rosaleen Lally and Karen Gallagher, Sinn Féin in Mayo is offering constituents an opportunity for real change in next year’s council elections.

“Other candidates will be added in these areas as we progress towards 2024. I know that if they are elected, these four women will make a significant difference to Mayo County Council and the constituents they serve. I look forward to campaigning with them in the months ahead,” she said.

Ms Hyland is also a board member of the South West Mayo Development Company and the Mayo County Council Housing SPC.

“I intend to be a strong voice for all in the Castlebar municipal district, to join the team in continuing the Sinn Féin call for investment in healthcare services and housing, and in reducing the impact of the cost of living crisis.

“I am grateful to the members of Castlebar Sinn Féin and Mayo Sinn Féin for their support. I am looking forward to the campaign ahead of us and to ensuring that a Sinn Féin representative is returned to Mayo County Council,” she said at the selection convention.

Ms Morris told the convention that the cost of living crisis means that ordinary people are struggling to make a living.

“Living with deprivation or having to fight for everything your child needs is hugely draining. Poverty is hard work, and expensive. When you’re struggling to survive, you don’t get a chance to thrive.

“We need healthcare that is properly resourced and staffed – in Mayo we have long waiting lists, elderly and infirm people on a trolley for hours, children with additional needs waiting years for services, carers not receiving supports, families unable to access respite services, old people can’t get home help,” she said.

Current councillor Gerry Murray is also expected to defend his seat in the Swinford Electoral Area while a candidate has yet to be selected in the Claremorris Electoral Area.