This article is from page 10 of the 2006-06-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
SINN FÉIN is looking to its six cumann in Clare to find a candidate for the next election.
With confidence growing in the party following Pearse Doherty’s large Clare vote in the 2004 European election, the party said it was now preparing to find a candidate in the Banner County.
During his visit to Clare last Friday, the party’s leader in the Dáil, Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said it was unlikely that the search would extend beyond the party.
“That isn’t our approach in the norm. We rely on first our own resources and talents,” he said.
When asked if the party would approach a high profile figure in the county to run for it, the Monaghan TD said, “I don’t think it is an approach we would prefer. We would prefer to concentrate on our own members.”
“It would be a requirement obviously to be a member of the party,” he added.
“In the last election (European), Pearse Doherty received 5,000 votes in Clare. That is a measure of the potential in the county.”
Deputy Ó Caoláin was in Clare in his role as Sinn Fein’s Health Spokesperson. Launching the party’s National Healthcare Campaign “Healthcare in an Ireland of Equals”, he visited numerous health facilities around Ennis.
Accompanied by local Sinn Féin activists, he met with Peadar McNamara, Chairman of Ennis General Hospital Development Committee, with whom he said he had a long standing working relationship.
He told The Clare People that he had been involved in a long series of correspondence with the lobby group, and had supported their work not only as a TD, but also as a resident on Monaghan town.
He then paid a visit to the Mid Western Regional Hospital Ennis, where he met with campaigners and staff and had a short walkabout.
Prior to his meeting at the hospital, the Sinn Féin TD visited a number of shopping centres in the town.
He also met with members of Down’s Syndrome Ireland who were having a flag day. The deputy said he was acutely aware of their concerns, as a sibling of a man with Down’s Syndrome.
He then met with the management, staff and service users of the Disabled People of Clare at their offices.