Sinn Fein’s Roisin new first citizen

Sinn Fein’s Roisin new first citizen

7 June 2017

SINN Fein has taken the top two posts on Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

Mrs Roisin Mulgrew was installed as the district’s new first citizen at the local authority’s annual meeting last week when her party colleague, Willie Clarke, was confirmed as her deputy.

The new chairwoman — who has replaced the SDLP’s Gillian Fitzpatrick — represents the Slieve Gullion area in the southern end of the constituency and is looking forward to leading the local authority over the next 12 months.

Mrs Mulgrew was presented with her chain of office by her predecessor last Thursday night at what was the council’s third annual meeting since its formation following the review of public administration.

The new chairwoman said she was “honoured” to become the district’s first citizen, with the occasion made even more special by the support of her family and fellow party members with whom she has campaigned for many years.

“Without their hard work and dedication I would not be here today,” she said. “This position is an opportunity to pursue and achieve real change for the people in our area.”  

Looking to the year ahead, she said she plans to put the “uncertain future” of Daisy Hill Hospital and the looming threat of service closure at the forefront of local politics, “empowering and supporting the inspiring grassroots activity of recent years.”

She continued: “To achieve our objectives we must come together into one cohesive campaign.  I will use my year in office to bring together the wealth of ideas, the energy and the efforts of community groups, the staff of Daisy Hill, our trade unions and local businesses into one unified campaign. I will ensure that as a community we speak effectively with a single voice to save Daisy Hill and all of our health care facilities throughout the district which are under threat. They are at the heart of our community.

“Brexit will define social, economic and political life in this region for a generation. Our border communities in particular face disruption to their way of life and their livelihoods. All of us have a duty to stop this from happening and we must come together to stand against Brexit.”

Mrs Mulgrew said the “true first citizens” of Newry, Mourne and Down were the volunteers and community workers who worked tirelessly to bind and grow community cohesion, organising festivals and celebrations to promote a shared culture. 

“The volunteers and community workers fundraise and care for the sick and disadvantaged, they fight to save our local health care services and they run our community youth and sports clubs.  My charities this year will reflect this crucial and unceasing effort and the vast network of community activists throughout the district,” she continued.

The chairwoman added: “I look forward to tackling these challenges supported by a talented and dedicated deputy chair Willie Clarke and indeed the whole council team.”

Councillor Clarke — who is a former chairman of the old Down Council — said he will do everything he can to support Mrs Mulgrew and is looking forward to his particular role in the year ahead.

He continued: “I will do all I can in my role as deputy chairman to support Mrs Mulgrew and congratulations to Councillor Fitzpatrick on the high energy role she undertook as chair and to her deputy Garth Craig.”

Setting out his priorities for the year ahead, the new deputy chairman said he will endeavour to continue the “healing process” in communities and work with new citizens and ethnic groups within the district.

Councillor Clarke added: “I will work with disadvantaged groups who are switched off from the political process to give them a voice so that resources can be directed to those that need them most. Sincere thanks to my party for nominating me for this role for which I am honoured and humbled.”