Devlin and Quinn selected by SDLP for upcoming elections

Devlin and Quinn selected by SDLP for upcoming elections

9 January 2019

THE SDLP has chosen sitting councillors Laura Devlin and Brian Quinn to defend their seats in the Mournes district electoral area at the forthcoming local government elections.

Their nomination was confirmed at a recent selection meeting when the party also confirmed its candidates in the Downpatrick, Rowallane and Slieve Croob areas.  

Candidates for the Newry, Crotlieve and Slieve Gullion area will be selected shortly as the SDLP aims to increase its membership on Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

Cllr Devlin said it had been her “tremendous honour” to serve the people of the Mournes DEA over the past five years. 

“As someone who grew up with a strong sense of community and reconciliation, I believe the policies I have pursued during my years on council have adequately reflected that, as have the results,” she explained.

“This year will be busy as I am expecting another baby as well as contesting an election. But I enjoy a challenge and I hope that my constituency work on the ground spanning the past 20 years will stand by me as we approach polling day.”

Cllr Quinn said there was much more work to be done and he trusted that the public will return both him and his party colleague in the Mournes area to continue with this vital task.

He added: “I look forward to continuing to represent the needs of the public at council and ensuring that nobody is left behind.”

South Down MLA  Colin McGrath paid tribute to the returning local government candidates. He said Cllrs Devlin and Quinn had worked tirelessly for the people of the Mournes throughout their tenure on council. 

“As they both quite rightly say, there is still a great deal of work to be done. Ultimately, that is our goal, the betterment of our society for the common good,” he said Mr McGrath.

“To win hearts and change minds; to build up a culture of individual and societal reconciliation. That has always been the mission of the SDLP and Laura and Brian are champions of that cause.”

Last week, it was confirmed that the party had rubber-stamped a number of its election candidates, with Northern Ireland’s longest serving district councillor — Dermot Curran — set to defend his seat in Downpatrick, alongside colleagues Gareth Sharvin and John Trainor.

In Slieve Croob, current Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairman Mark Murnin will be out to defend his seat, with the SDLP choosing Hugh Gallagher, from the party’s Castlewellan and Kilcoo branch, as his running mate.

Party stalwart Terry Andrews is the sole SDLP candidate standing in Rowallane.