Tag Archives: Sinn Féin

LAST Friday evening Sinn Féin formally chose Donna McGettigan to fill the County Council seat left vacant following the death of Mike McKee. She was the only person nominated, and the nomination came from Mike’s wife, Eileen. On Monday Donna met with The Clare Champion and spoke about her own background and her views on her new role, as one of two Shannon based county councillors, and Sinn Féin’s only representative in Clare. She left Belfast as a young child, with several of her male relatives interned in Long Kesh and her own granny on the run from the authorities in the North. “She was a strong woman. So that’s where I obviously picked that up from,” Donna laughs. The Belfast they left in the 1970s was a very violent place, with frequent bombings and shootings. “When we weren’t down herethat long, my Mum’s Granny, our Great Granny, had died in her sleep. And me uncle came to pick us …

ON Saturday afternoon Sinn Féin selected Violet Anne Wynne as its candidate in Clare for next month’s general election. Originally the party had chosen Mike McKee and Noeleen Moran to run. However Councillor McKee became ill and died earlier this year. In addition, so long had elapsed following its original selection convention, that Ms Moran’s nomination was no longer valid, and another convention was required. On Friday Ms Moran issued a statement ruling herself out of the race, making it clear she was not happy with the process that had been followed. “I will not be putting my name forward at the Sinn Féin selection convention for the forthcoming General Election. Sinn Féin has had since last August to select a candidate in Clare, yet they chose to leave it until this very late stage to do so. “I do not think that is an appropriate or fair way to treat someone who was willing to put their name forward …

FOLLOWING a meeting in Shannon this evening, Sinn Féin have opted for Donna McGettigan to fill the vacancy on Clare County Council left by the death of Councillor Mike McKee. It is understood she was the only candidate put forward by party members. She was nominated by the late Councillor McKee’s wife, Eileen. She still has to be approved by the party’s Ard Comhairle, but this is a formality. The party are expected to announce a candidate for the general election tomorrow.

NOELEEN Moran, who stood for Sinn Féin at the last general election, and who had been expected to do so again in 2020 has ruled herself out of the race. Ms Moran had actually been on the originally selected Sinn Féin ticket, but because so long had passed from the time of her nomination, it became invalid and another selection convention was required. That is about to take place but on Friday afternoon in an angry statement Ms Moran said she would not be in the race. “I will not be putting my name forward at the Sinn Féin selection convention for the forthcoming General Election. Sinn Féin has had since last August to select a candidate in Clare, yet they chose to leave it until this very late stage to do so. “I do not think that is an appropriate or fair way to treat someone who was willing to put their name forward and had been selected for …

SHANNON’S Donna McGettigan is likely to replace the late Mike McKee on Clare County Council. This week Ms McGettigan confirmed she is interested in taking up the role and it is understood that the local party are also set to support her. Ms McGettigan actually ran in the Ennis Municipal District for last year’s local elections, despite the fact that she was living in Shannon. In the coming days, invitations will be sent out to Sinn Féin members in the area who would be eligible to take on the role. Following this, there is likely to be a selection convention towards the end of the month. Speaking this week, Ms McGettigan confirmed she would be looking to fill the seat. “Mike himself would have asked me before he passed if I would put myself forward. Gary Fitzgibbon was interviewed about it and a lot of people afterwards would have suggested myself. As I walk through the Town Centre I’m always …

SHANNON parish priest Arnold Rosney paid tribute to Councillor McKee at Monday’s funeral mass. Ss John & Paul Church was packed for the ceremony, while large numbers had also attended the McKee house on Saturday as the remains were reposed. “I and many more of you knew Mike McKee as a man of courage, of kindness, honesty and fairness. I and many more, while not always agreeing with Mike, held him in the highest esteem and respect as a family man, and as someone who had a mandate to represent our community. Mike represented this community, this town, without fear or favour for over 30 years.” Addressing Councillor McKee’s wife, he said, “Eileen, I know there are many people thinking of you and your family this afternoon and many who are very grateful for what Mike and your family have done, and while today is your personal loss, it’s also a huge loss to our community. “I saw Mike’s best …

Many tributes have been paid to the late Shannon Councillor Mike McKee in recent days, while large numbers attended his funeral. Originally from the North, his family left the Protestant area of Belfast in which they lived during his youth, under threat from loyalists. They relocated to Omagh and came to Shannon in the mid 1970s, as many others did. In 2017 he described arriving in the town. “I was about 17 and it was quite traumatic coming down here from the North, leaving all your friends behind and coming down to not just a strange place but to a strange country. I knew nothing about the Republic at that stage and I’d heard that it (Shannon) was just full of housing estates. The removal people who brought our furniture down said it was just houses, houses, houses everywhere and I couldn’t get my head around that until I arrived in Shannon.” However he said he was easily won over …

TRIBUTES have been paid to Mike McKee following his death earlier today. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said, “I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mike McKee who passed away earlier today at University Hospital Limerick following a short illness. “I send, in particular, my deepest sympathy to Mike’s wife Eileen, his son David and his daughter Janette, as well as two grandchildren. “Mike was a true Irish Republican and a great champion of the people of Shannon, which was reflected in his continued election to Shannon Town Council and Clare County Council over many years. “He represented the people with great pride for over three decades and anyone who ever met Mike knew of his sincerity and decency. “I know that this is a very sad time for party members in Clare and the wider Mid-West region and I extend to them my solidarity at this very sad time. Ar dheis Dé …