Sinn Féin confident of gains in Dublin
Right across the city of Dublin, the Sinn Féin electoral machine is
up and running in preparation for local authority elections in June.
There is a strong feeling that there has never been a more favourable
time for Sinn Féin to make gains in the capital. The party believes
it has the right message and the right candidates and that with hard
work over the next 10 weeks it will emerge sucessful on 12 June.
The upbeat atmosphere was reflected at two packed campaign launches
on opposite sides of the city recently. Speaking at the launch of
Sinn Féin's election campaign in the Southeast Inner City, on 25
March, National Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin said the party was:
``confident of victory with a focused and determined campaign.
``Our candidates, not only here in the Southeast Inner City, but
across Dublin are those people who have shown leadership within their
communities. This leadership has been recognised by the people of
Dublin''.
The packed meeting was told by local candidate Daithí Doolan that:
``Homelessness in Dublin has risen by 60% in recent years, 10,000
people on the housing list, developments based on profit instead of
need, these are the issues that concern people. These are the issues
that we have been involved in over the years. It is because of this
work and because of you, the people who are working with us, that I
am confident of taking a seat in June''.
Paul Donnelly launched his campaign for a seat in the Mulhuddart ward
in West Dublin on Tuesday, 30 March. He was joined by Sinn Féin TD
Caoimhghín O Caoláin, who said that Paul and his wife Angela had been
central to the reorganisation of Sinn Féin in the area as a vibrant
political party with deep roots in the community.
O Caoláin said the work of Dublin Sinn Fein among communities
throughout the city since the early 1980s is a matter of record and
that now was the time to ensure that the voice of these communities
is heard on local authorities in the form of Sinn Féin councillors.
Paul Donnelly said there was a genuine recognition of the work that
Sinn Féin had carried out in the Blanchardstown community. He said:
``We are recognised as a party of integrity, a party not afraid to
confront the issues that the community faces every day. We are the
only party with a solid record of work on the ground. I am extremely
confident that on June 12, with your continued support, I am going to
be the first Sinn Féin councillor on Fingal Council.
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