Republican News · Thursday 9 May 2002

Profiles of Connaught/Ulster candidates

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD - Cavan/Monaghan

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has been generally recognised as one of the hardest working TDs in Leinster House since his election in 1997. He has campaigned tirelessly for the retention, improvement and development of all hospital services in Counties Monaghan and Cavan.

If re-elected on this occasion, Caoimhghín will bring a wealth of experience to his position as TD. He has been a full-time elected representative since his election to Monaghan County Council in 1985; he served on Monaghan Urban District Council between 1994 and 1999 and now has five years experience as a Dáil deputy. He has striven to achieve the best results for citizens at local, regional and national level.

Throughout his term as TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Caoimhghín has been a central figure in Sinn Féin's work for a lasting peace. His re-election, together with a team of Sinn Féin TDs from other constituencies, will help to ensure the continued development of the peace process towards an Ireland where all our people enjoy a society based on cooperation and equality.

Ald. Sean MacManus - Sligo/Leitrim

Alderman Seán MacManus has been instrumental in drawing attention to the economic disadvantage of the North West. He has actively tried to reverse this disadvantage by bringing together the heads of councils on both sides of the border to draw up a long term strategy aimed at regenerating the region.

Sean, a member of Sinn Féin's ruling Ard Chomhairle and a senior member of the party's peace process negotiating team, is a member of Sligo Corporation and Sligo County Council. His son Chris, and Arthur Gibbons are also Sinn Féin members of Sligo Corporation. Seán was the Mayor of Sligo and his son Chris is currently Deputy Mayor.

Seán has been a member of Sinn Féin since 1976. He was elected to the Ard Comhairle in 1981 and served as National Chairperson of the party from 1984 to 1990. He played a central part in developing the party's current peace strategy and was instrumental in developing its local government policy.

He has been an important member of several delegations in meetings with British Cabinet ministers, including with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street. Sean participated in the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, which was organised by the Irish Government following the IRA cessation of August 1994.

Vincent Wood - Mayo

Vincent Wood, his partner Patricia and their son Cian live in Clogher, Claremorris, County Mayo. He has lived in Mayo since his release from prison in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Vincent has been working to build Sinn Féin in Mayo and has been successful in raising the party's profile. He was Director of Elections for Mayo in the 1999 local elections and PRO for Seán MacManus during the European elections the same year.

He has been a member of Sinn Féin's Ard Chomhairle for the past two years and is on the Officer Board of Cúige Chonachta/Uladh. He is a member of the Council for the West's Action Committee on Corrib Gas and is an active campaigner for Western development.

As Sinn Féin's candidate for the next Leinster House elections in the volatile Mayo five-seater, Vincent will front the challenge to the two party set up that has characterised the area for decades.

Daniel Callanan - Galway West

Danny Callanan is married and has three children. A solicitor by profession, he has been involved in republican political activity for several years. As part of his work he is a voluntary solicitor with the Citizens Advice Bureau. He is a member of the Quirk Road Action Group and will make the issues of health, housing, planning of services and anti-racism the priority concerns of his campaign.

Danny lives with his family in the Knocknacarra area of Galway city. He was on the national executive of the Irish National Congress and is a member of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance. Danny also worked as a trade union official with MSF when he was employed with Friends First Insurance Company.

Seán Ac Coistealbha - Galway West

Seán Ac Coistealbha lives in An Spideál with his wife and three children. A graduate of University College Galway, he is employed as an education manager with Múintearas - a community based development initiative in the Gaeltacht regions. He has a long history of involvement with youth and education projects and is a well respected language activist and community worker.

He was instrumental in forming the Sinn Féin South Connemara cumann and is presently its chairperson.

He will prioritise planning, the Gaeltacht and local democracy in the coming months.

Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn - Donegal North East

Buncrana Town Councillor Padraig MacLochlainn is a prominent young campaigner and community activist. A painter and decorator by trade, the 28-year-old has a proven track record of representation at a local, national and European level.

Incensed by the high levels of unemployment in his native county, he acted as the Donegal spokesperson for the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) from 1997 until recently. He also served on the INOU National Executive from 1997 until 2000 as well as representing the organisation on the National Rural Development Forum.

Locally, he was a community director on the Inishowen Partnership Board for five years from 1996 to 2001. He is presently a board member of Action Inishowen.

He has spoken at a number of major European conferences in Vienna, Cologne, Helsinki and Barcelona on the issues of unemployment, regional neglect and rural poverty. Padraig has a diploma in Social Studies.

Pearse Doherty - Donegal South West

Pearse Doherty, a resident of Gweedore, is at 24 the youngest candidate in County Donegal. Tá Piaras, atá cáilithe mar innealtóir sibhialta, ina bhall de Sinn Féin ó 1994. Bhí sé ar dhuine de chomhbhunaitheoirí Ógra Shinn Féin, áit a raibh freagrachtaí aige mar oifigeach feachtais agus slógaidh ar an Choiste Feidhmiúcháin ó 1998 go 2001.

A civil engineer by profession, Pearse is a strong supporter of the Irish Language and an avid GAA supporter. A member of Sinn Féin since 1994, he has served on the national executive of Ógra Shinn Féin.

Pearse is a member of MIJAG, the national group that campaigns against the high cost of motor insurance and considers this issue to be central in the upcoming election.

Tom Dignam - Donegal South West

Tom Dignam lives in Ballbofey and is married with three children. Conraitheoir díonadóireachta agus cearpantóireachta is ea Tom atá ina bhall de Sinn Féin ón bhliain 1970. Le linn an ama sin, ghníomhaigh sé mar stiúrthóir toghchán d'iarrthóirí Sinn Féin i ndáilcheantair Iardheiscirt Dhún na nGall. A republican former prisoner, Tom now holds the position of chairperson of the Drumboe Martyrs Commemoration Committee.

Daithí Mac an Bhaird - Galway East

Daithí Mac An Bhaird, at 23 years of age, is one of the youngest candidates in this election. Originally from County Monaghan, Daithí has lived in County Galway for five years. He has a BA in Irish and History from NUI Galway, where he is studying for a Masters in Education through Irish. Daithi joined Sinn Féin in 1998.

Paul Whelan - Longford Roscommon