Constituency profiles
Canvassing points to rise in SF vote
Newry & Armagh
- Davy Hyland
- Pat McNamee
- Conor Murphy
By Mary Maguire
The constituency, described to visitors as ``God's country'', could
not bear a more suitable description. And nowhere is the battle
for the hearts and minds of nationalists more pronounced. The
constituency, whose borders run along the greenest hills and
hidden lakes, covers three different areas. The town of Newry and
Armagh City - which experience most of the social problems
related to a growing economy - and South Armagh where the ongoing
military occupation and the recent expansion of bases are a
priority concern to all the residents.
The growing success of Sinn Fein in the area has been seen
repeatedly in recent years. In last year's general election, as
SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon's vote remained static, rising
by just 240, Sinn Fein's rose by almost 5000 votes to a total of
11,218. In the Forum elections, Sinn Fein polled 12,500. In the
Slieve Gullion ward of South Armagh and in Newry town, the party
outpolled the SDLP. And in the local elections, in Newry, SF
candidate Davy Hyland, a popular school teacher and sportsman,
topped the poll in both the 1993 and 1997 contests.
The most recent development was the election of Brendan Curran on
8 June as chairperson of the Newry and Mourne Council, the first
time a SF councillor has held the post.
Sinn Fein's success is no secret. Canvassing is the most
organised and professional I've seen. But above all, councillors
Pat McNamee and Davy Hyland and former councillor Conor Murphy
are the only candidates to have genuinely committed themselves to
address the concerns of the residents. For all of them,
demilitarisation is the most crucial issue.
According to the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee
(SAFRC), since the latest IRA ceasefire, bases have been extended
by nearly 40% and intrusive surveillance and patrolling only
increased. ``I don't know how patient the residents of this area
are going to stay if they see no changes,'' said Declan Fearon,
chairman of the Committee.
The group has been vigorously campaigning to have the area
demilitarised, and have had meetings with Bertie Ahern, as well
as Marjorie Mowlam. But South Armagh seems to be continuing to be
the British Army training ground it has been for years. Only two
weeks ago, a farmer found a huge quantity of British spy
surveillance equipment. Cameras, microphones, infra red sensors,
satellite receivers and a large power pack were discovered in the
Cornonagh area hidden in grass and moss.
``No one knows how many more are buried in the area,'' said Toni
Carragher, secretary of SAFRC. ``What does this say about the
whole peace process?''.
The impact of the military occupation is furthermore undermining
all efforts to promote tourism. Recently, a Canadian family on
holiday in South Armagh expressed their disgust at the helicopter
activity.
The family likened the situation to a war zone and recently, an
Italian cameraman stressed that even in Bosnia, the level of
surveillance had never been so high. Conor Murphy is involved
with the District Partnership Board and has promoted Camloch Lake
as a tourist amenity. But he stresses that only a total
demilitarisation can help tap the tourist potential.
The candidates are also determined to tackle the drugs problem as
the RUC is unwilling to take the initiative. One of Newry's main
drug outlets is within a two-minute walk of the Ardmore RUC
barracks. And the fortress Bessbrook, with all its elaborate
surveillance equipment, remains base to an extensive illicit
drugs business. Schoolchildren in Armagh have also been issued
with mobile phones to help drug barons run a sophisticated drugs
delivery service. Until now, SF representatives, in particular
Brendan Curran and anti-drugs activist Charlie Casey, are among
the very few prepared to stand up to the drug bosses.
They have advised parents and youth and set up education programs
aimed at prevention and have organised self-help groups for
addicts.
Pat McNamee, a restless republican activist for more than twenty
years, is a member of the SF Health Service group and is
determined to secure the best possible health services. With
candidate Davy Hyland, he was actively involved in the fight
against the closure of Daisy Hill hospital in Newry. 10,000
signatures were recently collected to denounce the plans to close
down the medical centre.
The people of Newry/Armagh seem more than ever determined to
shape their future by electing responsible and open candidates.
Pat McNamee, Davy Hyland and Conor Murphy intend to use the
northern assembly to build on the peace by advancing
demilitarisation. Is é do rogha féin é.
East Derry
- John McIlhinney
- Malachy O'Kane
Former Republican POW Malachy O'Kane, a councillor on Limavady
council, is confident of victory due to the rising support for
Sinn Fein, particularly among young people in the region.
John McIlhinney is a native of Greysteel, and has a long history
of interest and involvement in nationalist and cultural issues.
He is particularly aware of the importance of bringing local
issues to the fore within the Assembly. ``We need the strongest
possible republican representation within the new Assembly,
especially for areas that have been ignored. But there are other
matters, like the massive unemployment which exists around the
north-east of the constituency, which we must confront and
overcome. It's for that reason that people should come out again
and place their vote for Sinn Féin.''
Fermanagh/South Tyrone
- Michelle Gildernew
- Gerry McHugh
- Pat Treanor
Partition has a huge negative impact on this vast rural
constituency, which borders the southern counties of Monaghan,
Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal, and its main urban centres in
Enniskillen and Dungannon. The economy, social and community
structures, as well as its politics, all reflect this schismatic
make-up.
The necessity of complete British demilitarisation, not just of
the fortresses and checkpoints but of the British Army foot
patrols, which continue to harass nationalists, are seen as a
major concern within the region, as well as the pressing need for
the disbandment of the RUC, which has wilfully acted as a
loyalist occupying force within the heart of this naturally
nationalist constituency.
Sinn Fein representatives are committed to addressing the
depressed state of agriculture, a direct result of the British
government's inept handling of the BSE crisis.
Historical Unionist misrule has been perpetuated by an alliance
of unionist councillors working to exclude nationalists from the
senior posts on the council. This situation highlights the
necessity for Nationalists to confront Unionism effectively
within the new Assembly.
Lagan Valley
By Michael Pierse
For the first time nationalists living in the Lagan Valley
constituency on the south west outskirts of West Belfast are
faced with the realistic prospect of electoral success.
Paul Butler has centred his campaign on motivating people to
vote. He has long challenged the gerrymandered system imposed on
people in the area, especially in his role on Lisburn Council.
For many years the council has ostracised nationalist
representatives from committees and decision-making bodies.
Butler asserted that ``a nationalist assembly seat drawn from the
area could ensure an end to this continual alienation and
deprivation of the community.''
People living in the Black's Road, Lagmore Housing Estate, Lower
Dunmurry Lane, Glenavy, Lisburn Town and the Poleglass and
Twinbrook Estates, amongst others, have been denied access to
funding and amenities. In the Lisburn Council area, which is the
second largest council in the Six Counties, there are 29 parks -
only one lies in the Twinbrook area. According to ßButler there
is ``no real social infrastructure, very little employment
prospects'' and generally pervasive ``social deprivation.''
He also conveyed the deep sense of anger at UUP MP Jeffrey
Donaldson's approach to the Good Friday Document. His
``undermining'' of the document. Nationalists in the area consider
his attitude offensive and begrudging.
Paul Butler, who served a 15 year sentence in Long Kesh and spent
four years on the Blanket protest, has been a member of the
Republican Movement since he was 17. In his spare time he teaches
young people woodcraft skills, gained from a small craft business
which he was forced to give up due to his constituency work. He
has been involved in various community initiatives such as the
very successful Neighbourhood Watch. His keen interest in the
Irish language is also a major thrust of his political ideology.
Speaking to An Phoblacht he committed himself to every effort to
``hold the British Government to its pledge to take resolute
action to enhance the status of the Irish language.''
South Down
- Mick Murphy
- Garret O'Fachtna
The constituency includes Newcastle, Ballynahinch, Downpatrick
and Warrenpoint. The forthcoming marching season with Orange
Order plans to parade through the nationalist town of Downpatrick
is of immediate concern. During the last Orange march through the
town in 1983 scores of nationalists were attacked and injured by
the RUC. Increasing drug-related crime and RUC collusion with
drug dealers acting as informers is another major concern which
Sinn Féin is determined to tackle.
Garret, a trained counsellor and therapist, highlights the
growing issue of drug-related crime in the South Down area, and
advocates a long-term community strategy which avoids the
unnecessary criminalisation or marginalisation of young people.
Representing South Down on SF's 6 County executive, Garret was
the first Sinn Fein candidate to stand in the constituency of
Strangford. He is also SF's spokesperson on trade union matters
and has a keen interest in the Gaelic language and culture.
Mick, a father of six from the Rostrevor area, describes himself
as ``an enthusiast of all things Irish'' and has been prominent in
radical politics since the civil rights campaigns of the late
1960s. Representing Sinn Fein in the Forum elections of 1996,
Mick secured the highest ever vote for the party in the
constituency. He combined his council duties with a role in the
Stormont bilateral meetings with Irish and British governments,
and the other parties to the talks.
Mick's love of Gaelic games and Irish culture has ensured that he
plays an active role in the promotion of both interests, in the
media and at ministerial level, as part of Sinn Fein's pledge to
force the British government to recognise and legislate on them
as part of the Equality agenda.
Within South Down Mick is also recognised for his leading role in
helping to develop one of the first examples of cross-border
initiatives as promised in the Belfast Agreement, with a local
body to coordinate north-south fishing industries around
Carlingford Lough.
Mid Ulster
- John Kelly
- Martin McGuinness
- Francie Molloy
by Michael Pierse
The political battle in Mid Ulster has been dominated by calls to
maximise of the broad nationalist vote. Republicans are
determined to attain three seats in the area and by consequence
exclude obstinate `No' candidates on the unionist side.
The rolling hills and agricultural tradition of South Derry and
parts of Tyrone indicate a relaxed country life but belie the
heated political battle throughout the constituency, between the
bigotry of unchanged unionism and the agent of transition that is
Sinn Féin.
In the forum elections SF was the only party in the constituency
to win two seats, relegating Willie McCrea to a last count
scraping-in. In the Westminster elections Martin McGuinness's
emphatic election liberated nationalists from the long
frustration of misrepresentation.
However, now we see sectarianism re-shaping in an effort to
diffuse the dynamics of the Good Friday document. Willie McCrea
will be campaigning to secure a mandate for maintainance of
unionist domination.
A determination to disempower the intolerance of such politicians
has driven SF in Mid-Ulster to call for no political transfers to
unionist candidates. This is clearly not a sectarian decision. SF
has a clear message - the people will not acquiesce with
injustice or amalgamate with those who would smirk at the
prospect of using nationalist votes against those casting them.
Sinn Féin candidate John Kelly has emphasised the need to
``maximise the strong republican voice in Mid-Ulster'' in order to
effect real change on the equality agenda.
Councillor Kelly, the only nationalist candidate from the South
Derry area, is possibly one of the most highly profiled `veteran'
republicans in Ireland and is part of the dynamic political
machine that has made SF the largest party in the constituency.
Commenting on the importance of a decisive republican vote, Kelly
emphasised the dangers posed by the prospect of nationalist
under-representation and was critical of the SDLP's calls for
preference to unionist `Yes' parties. This policy, he commented,
is ``adverse to any prospects of maximising the broad nationalist
mandate and ensuring real progress on the equality agenda.'' He
also explained that whilst the UUP as a party have described
themselves as `pro-agrement', unionist candidates in the area are
openly hostile towards the Good Friday document and indeed the
UUP in recent times have been attempting to re-negotiate a
document which has already recieved the broad support of the
people of Ireland, and those within their own communities.
Kelly emphasised the vital relevance of a strong nationalist
mandate to the development of the cross-border bodies and what he
termed as an ``absolute overhaul'' of the civil service, which he
conveyed as being utterly unfair and inherently sectarian.
The Councillor condemned the proposed withdrawal of medical
services from the Mid-Ulster area and continued that ``this must
be taken in conjunction with the whole economic plan, or lack
thereof, for areas west of the Bann.'' Referring to a widespread
lack of confidence in the funding distribution mechanisms within
the civil service, he related that ``the latest document from the
Department of the Environment entitled `Shaping our Future',
relegated areas like Magherafelt and Maghera as third class areas
in relation to economic development west of the Bann.''
As Vice Chairperson of the Sperrin Tourism Partnership, Kelly was
particularly wary of developments in the NIO ensuring that nearly
all tourism pilot schemes for the future are to be located East
of the Bann, especially when considering that the Sperrins region
is the largest land mass west of the river and a
characteristically scenic area. This region has been ignored
despite its obvious capabilities in building a potent tourist
industry. Kelly asserted that ``economic and social apartheid''
must be negated and that the only manner in which to effect this
change would be to maximise the nationalist mandate and ensure
that the dynamic provided for forward movement and unity of the
Irish people within the document is allowed to reach its full
potential. Kelly was also scathing of the prohibition of any
analysis of the employment statistics within the NIO, thus
preventing the exposure of a ``blatantly sectarian'' system.
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