Aontú throw hat into ring

Aontú throw hat into ring

3 April 2019

IRELAND’S newest political party will be represented at next month’s Newry, Mourne and Down Council election.

Aontú — which means unity or agreement — was formed by former Sinn Fein TD Peadar Toíbín with the party fielding candidates in Downpatrick, Rowallane and Slieve Croob.

The pro-life party is aiming to establish a firm local presence in the run-up to the May 2 poll with the focus on life, unity and economic justice.

Tracy Harkin is flying the Aontú flag in Slieve Croob, with former SDLP man Macartan Digney the party’s representative in Downpatrick. Aontú’s Rowallane candidate is Liam Mulhern.

The candidates say people feel that the respective leaderships of many political parties do not represent them anymore and are appealing to voters to be part of a grassroots movement with Aontú fighting for the right to life of every single individual. 

The party is seeking the unity of the Irish people, alongside prosperity and economic justice for those blocked from accessing such opportunities. It also wants to radically change what it describes as the “broken political culture” and break the groupthink that “silences and stifles political debate in Ireland.”

Mrs Harkin, a native of Kilmegan now living in Teconnaught, is a graduate of Queen’s University where she received a BSSC in Sociology/Social Policy. 

Tracy is concerned that the ongoing impasse at Stormont and the current inability of the two main parties to work together has led to a “disillusionment” at grassroots level.

“Many people in the Slieve Croob have not voted in any election in years and feel detached from politics even at a local level,” she continued. “The radical pro-choice stance of Sinn Fein and the SDLP leaderships have been the final straw for many.

“Aontú is a positive alternative, a party where members will have the courage to speak out against the current groupthink on important issues. I will encourage local people to become politically engaged in issues which affect their lives and have their say.”

Mrs Harkin says local councils need to move away from tribal politics of the past and work together for the benefit of all the community. She says it is “inexcusable and shameful” that power sharing institutions at Stormont have collapsed, arguing this makes the work of local councils even more important.

Mr Digney, who left the SDLP due to its policy on abortion, is heavily involved in parish life in Downpatrick and has been a local community representative for the area since he was 16.

A member of the Marian Park Community Association, he is  also vice-chairman of the Downpatrick Community Collective and Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership. 

A member of the Downpatrick District Electoral Area Forum that works to develop community action plans for the whole of the Lecale area, Mr Digney also supports young people through his work in the Patrician Youth Centre and has an interest in the GAA, along with other aspects of Irish culture.

“My priorities include the provision of affordable housing, a properly resourced health service, including a new MRI scanner for the Downe Hospital, improved roads infrastructure, enhanced transport links, jobs, the economy and tourism,” he added.

Mr Mulhern, who has been living in Crossgar for almost 20 years, says he has developed a keen awareness of issues, through professional and personal experience, explaining that as a father of six children, he is aware of the difficulties facing education and has personal experience regarding funding and access to educational needs.

He is a committee member of Children, Adults, Parents and Autism, a social group for children and young adults with autism and other neurodevelopment difficulties and wants to help address some of the challenges these children may face throughout their journey to adulthood. 

Mr Mulhern says one area he particularly wants to focus on is mental health. 

He added: “Through family experience, I am aware of the pain and loss which occurs in the aftermath of suicide and am keen to see the establishment of a project similar to the Men’s Shed which has proved to be a valuable resource in other areas, promoting positive, mental health.”