Sinn Féin stakes claim in Antrim
The high poll secured by Sinn Féin's Aine Gribbon in last week's by-election to Antrim Council, has marked a significant break through for the party in Antrim Town.
Speaking after last Wednesday's vote, in which the local woman polled 489 first preference votes, Gribbon said ``we are now poised to win a council seat here when the next full council elections take place in May 2001. Over the next 18 months we will continue to build on our party's strength in the area and to provide effective representation on local issues.
``We will campaign more extensively against drug abuse and continuously lobby the Housing Executive about the allocation and maintenance of houses in the town as well as other concerns raised by people in the community.''
Thanking those who voted for her, Gribbon also congratulated the party workers who fought the intensive four-week election campaign. She added that with such a strong team on the ground she looked forward to having a team of Sinn Féin representatives on Antrim Borough Council come May 2001 and to standing candidates in all the electoral areas throughout South Antrim.
The only previous occasion Sinn Féin contested Antrim Town was in 1989, when the party polled 189 votes.
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