Wood to contest Mayo for Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin have selected Ard Chomhairle member Vincent Wood as the party's Mayo candidate to contest the next general election.
Wood, 37, who lives in Clogher, Claremorris, with his partner Patricia and their son Cian has been Sinn Féin's Ard Chomhairle member in Mayo for the past two years. He is a member of the party's regional leadership and was Director of Elections in the county during last year's local authority elections.
Vincent Wood is part of what Mary Robinson called `The Diaspora'. He was brought up in London's Irish community, where he was actively involved in Irish community organisations and participated in Conradh na Gaeilge and the Irish language movement there.
Vincent was amongst the first group of republican prisoners released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He spent over five years in English prisons and was transferred to Portlaoise in 1997. He has been a tireless supporter of the peace process and of the Sinn Féin leadership.
Speaking at a meeting of Mayo Comhairle Ceantair, Vincent Wood outlined the potential that now exists for Sinn Féin in the county:
``We are listening to people from Erris to Murrisk, Ballina to Ballinrobe saying that people are increasingly moving away from what have become traditional voting patterns. We will offer a radical alternative that is community-centred, has policies that are relevant to young people, that seriously address gender inequality and marry strong local and regional interest with all-Ireland structures and a range of political and civic experience throughout the 32 counties.''
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