Sinn Fein selects its West Mayo MD local election team
The Sinn Fein party has selected two candidates to run in the West Mayo Municipal District in the 2024 Mayo County Council elections.
Rosaleen Lally and Karen Gallagher were chosen at yesterday's convention in Mulranny.
Rosaleen will run in the three-seat Belmullet electoral area and Karen in the four-seat Westport electoral area.
A native of Belmullet and involved in community activism for many years, Rosaleen Lally is currently National Access Programme Manager with the Irish Wheelchair Association.
She is also chair of the board of Erris Family and Community Support Service and involved with Erris United FC.
Rosaleen is clear about the supports needed for families dealing with the cost-of-living crisis, housing problems and local infrastructure, as well as the particular issues faced by those living and working in the Erris region.
She stated: “For too long we have been paying the same taxes as everyone else in the county, yet we have a substandard road network, inaccessible footpaths, no public swimming pool, and poor broadband and phone network coverage. This must change, and I believe change is coming.”
She is particularly passionate about the future of Belmullet Community Hospital:
“My mum worked in this hospital for years when there were dozens of beds, a maternity ward and an A&E. Successive governments have shut down beds and eroded services.
“With overcrowding at an all-time high in Mayo University Hospital, the obvious solution would be to open up bed capacity in the community hospitals around the county to provide step-down facilities for patients."
Karen Gallagher hails from Moorehall and has lived in Westport for the last 21 years, where herself and her husband Dave are raising their five children.
As well as working full-time in Abbvie pharmaceutical company, Karen is an avid GAA supporter and involved in Westport Camogie and Westport LGFA.
Karen has been secretary of the county board for the last three years, and as a lifelong republican is delighted with the recent local election results in the 6 counties:
“The six counties local elections made history for Sinn Féin. They have now passed the baton to us – let’s keep this momentum going and ensure Sinn Féin are the largest party in local government, the Seanad and Dáil Éireann.
“I am dedicated to helping establish a United Ireland – a 32 county republic where all its citizens are treated fairly and equally, and where we all have better access to education, health care and public services.
“As a representative for Westport LEA, I will lobby for better, more affordable housing, and to enable those families affected by pyrite to live without the added fear of the cost of rebuilding their homes.
"We are extremely lucky to live in Westport – a beautiful place and loved by visitors – but it must also be a place that works for the local community.”
Depurt Rose Conway-Walsh stated: “I am delighted Rosaleen and Karen have decided to run for the party.
"They both have years of community experience and involvement, and I know they will put their hearts and souls into improving the lives of people living in the constituency.
“We hope to give people from all across Mayo the chance to endorse the positive, progressive politics of Sinn Féin.
"Sinn Féin is committed to building an Ireland of equals, and that includes equality of representation in political life. So, we are delighted to put forward these two strong, capable women as the first of our Mayo candidates.
“I am very much looking forward to campaigning with Karen and Rosaleen and am grateful to them for stepping up, and their families for supporting them.
"The Sinn Féin local election team across Mayo will be a strong hardworking team dedicated to bringing about the change people so desperately need.”