Discussing environmental improvements with HE in Short Strand

East Belfast Representative Niall Ó Donnghaile today went on a walk-about in the Short Strand area with staff from the Housing Executive to discuss environmental improvements in the area. He was joined by local resident and Sinn Féin activist Hugh McComb. They met with Alice Mills (Assistant District Manager East Belfast) and Malachi Brennan (Grounds Maintenance Manager) to discuss residents concerns about the planters on the Mountpottinger Road and the alleyways in Clandeyboy Gardens.

Our photo shows me with Hugh and Alice outside the homes affected by the planters on the Mount - Looking forward to continuing to work with Alice and Malachi as well as the residents to get a satisfactory conclusion to these issues.

Understand The Past

“Understand the past......
.......and build a better future”

Over the years we have always been able to rely on Danny D to encapsulate what we as a community are trying to say. From the darkest days of struggle through to the onset of peace and the inevitability of unity, Danny Devenny has given our communities a voice where others chose to censor us, to discredit us and attempt to criminalise us.

Danny’s latest work on the Mount depicts just what we as a community are about and what we wanted to achieve from the series of anniversary events held to mark 40 years since the Battle of Saint Matthews.

Things began last Wednesday with the launch of a new DVD/CD pack telling the story of what happened that fateful night 40 years ago. Many of those featured on the DVD sat amongst the mixed crowd of teenagers and pensioners, gathered upstairs in St Matthews Club.

St Matt’s was packed for the event and the DVD sold like hotcakes, such was interest amongst young people to hear this important story, but also amongst our older residents who were taken aback by the vivid reflections of that night and the incredible footage of our community used in the documentary.

Thanks to Big Bob who came over to launch the DVD and a big go raibh maith agat to Michelle, Seán and all those involved in making this first class documentary a reality. Well worth watching!

Next up, and after months of rehearsals, it was the opportunity for the many local young people involved with the play “The Battle of Saint Matthews” to get up and show us all the hard work they had put in.

Written by Kieran Magee, the play depicts the experience of various people living in the area on the night, when intoxicated bandsmen and shipyard workers set about trying to burn it to the ground. The play depicted the events throughout the city in the run up to the battle; it showed us the intention of loyalists to carry out what they had in Bombay St the year previous only on this occasion in the streets of this Parish. It showed us the IRA and local CDL putting in place the effective defence of this community. It also showed how this event impacted on young people in the area as well as the older people, who as they said in the course of the play, had “seen it all before”.

It also showed us the sacrifices made by those who took part in defending the Chapel and the people.

The play ran for 3 nights, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and every night was a roaring success, with the Parochial Hall filled to capacity. Fair play to all those involved, whose hard work and effort was the talk of the district. I look forward to seeing the play again in the summer during the local Féile!!

Saturday saw the launch of Danny’s new mural; I was very honoured and privileged to have been asked to chair this event. Danny is a long time family friend of ours and a man we have enormous respect and admiration for.



Danny’s work is known right across the world and is becoming increasingly in demand and rightfully so! Danny was never a man of art who lost his heart and we as a community are lucky to have him. Like I said previously, his message, simple as it was, depicted the whole point of what we as a community are about and what were very genuinely trying to achieve with the anniversary events and the opening of An Tine Bheo Memorial.

Sunday was the culmination of events.

Early on I ventured up to the Club for a private presentation to the families of our Patriot Dead and those named on the Roll of Remembrance. The families received a replica of the monument in the heart of the memorial garden and the families of the dead Volunteers also received a canvass portrait, again by Danny, the same as the faces now featured in the memorial garden itself.

The emotion on Sunday morning was palpable; this was a morning for honouring those who gave all in defence of our area and in pursuit of Irish freedom and independence.


Following a few tears being shed and warm exchanges between old friends and comrades as well as some lovely food put on by Catherine and Co, it was time to gather at the newly erected plaque just outside, at the side of St Matthews Club itself. The plaque honours three men from the Parish who played pivotal roles alongside the Republican Movement in the defence of the Parish, not just on that fateful night but throughout many, many years. Jimmy George, Henry McIlhone and Bobby Jennings now have a fitting tribute to them and all those citizens in the district that rose in defiance of the failed Orange State and its rampaging, sectarian gangs. It was another emotional event in what would be a sad but wonderful day.


Shortly afterwards, after meeting many friends and neighbours in the assembled crowd, I welcomed Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams to the Strand; he was the main speaker at the parade to open An Tine Bheo Memorial.

By this stage a huge crowd had gathered on the Mountpottinger Road to take part in the parade, many residents, people who had left the area, friends and relations lined the route, loudly applauding the Colour Party emerging from Mountforde and those relatives of our Patriot Dead that fell in behind it, clutching the now treasured portraits of their loved ones as well as a single lily.
Luckily the weather was with us and with the exception of a very brief burst of rain we had a beautiful day!


We made our way around the area, through the new courts and gardens to the old terraced streets that many of those we were gathered to remember had once walked along, played in and stood in defence of. Faces along the way were solemn but resolute, “we understand our past” they seemed to say “but we are building a better future!”

As we gathered at the monument and I made my way up onto the stage, the full effect of just how many people were there became clear. I had never seen so many people at a parade in this area, it was fantastic!



We went through the normal procedure for these events, Cáitlín read the local roll of honour and remembrance to absolute silence amongst those assembled, Zak played a lament while the Colour Party lowered their flags. This was a point where I could see minds drifting back through many years with quite a few tears being wiped away but also the odd cheeky grin in remembering the qualities of their brothers, their sisters, their mates, their comrades.

Our first speaker was well known local Republican activist and ex-POW Huggy McComb. I have known Huggy all my life (or should I say Huggy has known me all my life!!) and his words on Sunday afternoon summed up the feelings for many people involved with this project but also the unbowed and unbroken Republican family gathered at the side of An Tine Bheo. He did us, and the faces looking on from the memorial, very proud indeed.

We moved to the formal opening of the Garden, I was really honoured to introduce Betty Dorian, widow of Óglach Rab Dorrian to do the honours. So many people have played a part in making the monument a reality but there was no hesitation, either amongst the families or the committee, when it came to putting Betty’s name forward as the one to do this. She has worked tirelessly since the idea of this garden came into being. Fair play Betty!


Then it was Gerry’s turn; he spoke of the history of our Parish and the hurt inflicted upon it, he spoke of the unrelenting pride in our Patriot Dead and in their families, he spoke of his acknowledgement at the hurt caused by Republicans but he focused heavily on that recurring theme of the events; “understand the past, build a better future”.

The rest of the day was passed over to enjoying this momentous day together as a community,old friends, comrades, neighbours and relations to get together and remember the bad and good times. It was a chance for younger people, myself including, to hear about the men and women we honoured that day, to remember that they were ordinary Ballymacarrett people, just like us, but who in extraordinary times have gave all in pursuit of our Freedom.


It is important we always remember them with pride.

I could write forever about that day, for our community it was a hell of a long time coming and now we have a permanent, beautiful monument to our Patriot Dead. The work goes on though, to ensure we build the only worthy one to them and that is an Irish, Socialist Republic.

Tá a lán obair os ár gcomhair ach de réir imeachtaí De Domhnaigh agus roimhe tá mé cinnte go bhfuil an talann, and abáltach agus an inporóid againn an Aisling sin a bhaint amach!

Thanks again to everyone who played a part in any of the events, who gave up their time, assistance, patience, expertise and skills. The day belonged to all of us and An Tine Bheo, “The Living Flame” reminds us what we need to work towards.

Maith sibh agus Beirigí Bua!!

PS: I hope to upload more photos over the coming days..............

Conor Murphy on site visit to Short Strand

Today, Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy MP came on a site visit to the Short Strand area; he was joined by a number of departmental officials.

Conor met with myself, Bernie McCrory from the Short Stand Community Forum and Patrick Devlin, Chair of St Matthews Housing Association.

We went on a walkabout with management of the Translink Bus depot in the area. We held discussions inside about the future of the site and how it fits into the overall strategic plan for this part of the city and in particular the Short Strand community.

From there we looked at a number of problem spots for traffic flow and congestion and raised our concerns about the sheer amount of heavy duty vehicles that are using the Mountpottinger Road as a rat-run.

After our walkabout we headed into St Matthews Housing Association's office in Harper Street. Under the shadow of the monstrosity that is Mountpottinger Barracks we were able to inform Conor about our plans for developing the site for social and family homes.

At our discussion we were able to talk more about some of the traffic and pedestrian issues in the Strand. We also found out from the Roads Service officials where exactly the traffic calming for Madrid, Bryson and Edgar Streets are at; they will be contacting residents there in the next week or so to inform them of where things stand.

Following Conor's engagement we took him round to see the now completed 'An Tine Bheo memorial garden. Like most people who come to see it he was understandably impressed.
Here's some pics

Press Release issued today

Ó Donnghaile welcomes drugs seizure

Sinn Féin’s Pottinger Representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has welcomed news that the PSNI have seized and removed numerous cannabis plants following searches at two properties in the Short Strand today.Speaking this evening Mr Ó Donnghaile said;

“There is no place for drugs polluting this community.

Deep concerns about drug abuse and availability are issues that Sinn Féin and community workers in the area have been raising with the PSNI and other agencies for a considerable period of time now.Any move to take drugs off our streets and away from potentially polluting our community must be welcomed.

There has to be a strategic approach to tackling the issue of drugs in our communities that involves all the key stakeholders.The people of the Short Strand will continue to reject those who would attempt to push drugs and all the dangers that flow from that onto our people.” CRÍOCH

No more Bloody Sundays!

People in Palestine mark the victory of the Bloody Sunday Families and Survivors after the Saville Report rightfully deemed them innocent of any of the accusations made against them in the past.

Our thoughts should be with the people of Palestine who continually face fierce oppression and hostility as well as the continued blockade by Israel.

For them, everyday is becoming and increasingly Bloody day.

An Tine Bheo

“The Living Flame”

The idea to erect a permanent and fitting monument to the Patriot Dead from the Short Strand / Ballymacarrett has been doing the rounds for a long number of years now. From the memorial plaque placed outside the old Sinn Féin Centre in Beechfield Street, to the plaque put up beside the memorial mural on the Mountpottinger Road, Republicans from this area have always had a desire to see the people on the local Roll of Honour recognised with a permanent and fitting memorial.

A number of year’s back, despite ideas having been around for a lot longer, a group of Republican activists in the area finally decided it was time to put the plans into action. They talked, mostly around my father’s kitchen table, for weeks about how best to progress this, how they would acquire the land, raise the funds etc. In the end a committee was formed which was made up of local republicans, ex-POWs, relatives of our Patriot Dead and local people with an interest in seeing the monument erected.

With help from this community and beyond the committee has worked tirelessly to ensure that the monument would be built and that it would be appropriate to those names that would appear upon it. From running functions, to selling ballots, sweeps and t-shirts, the committee have excelled in their efforts and anyone who has been able to see An Tine Bheo Memorial Garden take shape over recent weeks will have no option but to commend their endeavours. I have been honoured and privileged to have been able to play, like many in this community, my small part in helping to see this vision become a reality. It’s long overdue but will soon become a reality. A big comhghairdeas to the committee and everyone who gave their time, money and expertise to see An Tine Bheo built!

Republicans from across the city and beyond will gather for the opening of An Tine Bheo next Sunday. Fittingly the date is the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Saint Matthews.

The 27th of June 1970 has earned its place in Republican history and indeed the history of this statelet. On that bright evening 40 years ago, after the pogroms of 1969, the people of this Parish decided they wouldn’t suffer the same fate as other vulnerable communities across the north had. With Loyalist marches taking place across the city throughout that day and attacks on areas in the north and west of the City predictably occurring, the people in this Parish (as they had done so many times before down through the generations) battened down the hatches prepared themselves for the inevitable onslaught. The people, alongside the Irish Republican Army, took to the streets in defence of the community and to hold back the descending hoards of Loyalist attackers, determined to see this area, and in particular St Matthews Chapel (a perceived ‘blight’ right in the heart of Unionist east Belfast) burnt to the ground, much in the same way that they had done with Bombay and surrounding Streets the previous year.

It is thanks to the people who defied them that I am able to sit at home and write this blog today.

The Battle of Saint Matthews was a turning point for the nationalist people of the north; it acted as a catalyst in defiance of the failed Orange State. No longer would intoxicated hoards of shipyard workers or loyalist bandsmen be allowed to attack areas such as ours en-mass, with the willing assistance of the RUC and British Army. Republicans look to that night and the men and women, boys and girls, who took part in it as a symbol of resistance and of progression.

Next week will see a number of events staged to coincide with the anniversary and the opening of An Tine Bheo. Proceedings begin on Wednesday 23rd with the launch of a new DVD/CD pack containing interviews with many of the people who were on the streets that historic night in defence of the community. On Thursday 24th, Friday 26th and Saturday the 27th young actors, mostly made up of local people, will stage a play depicting events as they occurred. This is certainly one not to be missed! On Saturday the 27th I have the honour of launching a new mural by renowned artist and fellow Short Strand man Danny Devenny.

Events culminate on the Sunday with the unveiling of a new plaque outside Saint Matthews Club and the parade around the area to the new memorial garden, An Tine Bheo later in the afternoon. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams is the main speaker at the unveiling.

Preparations for all of the events have been well underway for some time now, from the area was leafleted, letters put into the papers and posters put up around the area calling for people interested to join the committee staging these events, a small group of us have been ploughing ahead with the fitting events to mark a major and significant date and event for us as Republicans.

In particular a word of credit to the young people, most of them from the area, who are taking part in the play; they have been rehearsing for weeks now and it is a big ask to get up and stage a play in this area about such an emotive and significant event, which many people still have vivid memories of. Maith sibh uilig!

So I look forward to seeing you all next week, I hope we get a sunny day and I hope these modest events rightfully recognise and acknowledge the significance of the anniversary of the Battle of Saint Matthews and the role that the local Volunteers and those named on the Roll of Remembrance, played in pursuit of Irish Freedom and Independence.

Tá fáilte roimh chách and I know we will rightfully remember our Patriot Dead in a fitting and Republican manner.

An Phoblacht Abú!

One word..............

......innocent

Constituency update

Good news regarding the dismantling of Mountpottinger Barracks.

The decrepit, dilapidated and redundant base has been closed for some months now but following a meeting with PSNI Chief Superintendant in East Belfast Alan McCrum, we now know that the dismantling of the base is scheduled for the end of August, beginning of September this year.

The news comes after I wrote to new DSD Minister Alex Attwood last week, urging him to now work towards the immediate acquirement of the vacant land for the development of social, family homes. I have blogged numerous times about Mountpottinger and all that it represents as well as the very practical reasons why it should go.

The reality of the situation is that Mountpottinger is costing over £100,000 every year; it is now my hope that the vast amount of money that will be saved as a result of the dismantling of this site can be redirected to tackling the scourge of drugs and anti-social behaviour, as well as other issues, in this part of east Belfast. I certainly commit myself to working with the PSNI and others to ensure that happens.

Also this week, we received news that Belfast City Council’s Community Safety Wardens will be entering this part of inner east Belfast at the beginning of June. The scheme will run for 3 months, a particularly apt time given our experience on the ground of having to deal with anti-social activity over the summer months.

I have further meetings arranged on this issue ahead of the scheme being rolled out.

As well as this, once again many residents affected by the anti social activity in the area have contacted me outlining their real need for alley-gating in various parts of the Short Strand. This is an issue I have lobbied on numerous times in the past, thus far the City Council have yet to heed the pleas of residents in streets like Beechfield Street or Madrid Street who are nightly effected by problems in the entries at the back of their homes. I have arranged further meetings with the Council on this matter (including a walkabout to the streets concerned) and remain positive that we can secure the much needed gates for the areas most affected.

I have been in touch with NIE about the future of the now redundant electric substation at Strand Close. They need to urgently secure the station and move towards demolishing it as soon as possible.

Sinn Féin are also opposing the planned development of 31 high-rise apartments on a small piece of land on the Mountpottinger Road.

You can keep up to date with all these issues here.

We’re also looking forward to meeting with Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy who will be visiting the Strand very shortly. Conor is due to join us on a site visit to the Translink Bus Depot in the area to discuss the future of this site as well as meeting various community groups and reps to discuss issues around traffic calming and an important issue around the need for a pedestrian crossing at the bottom of the Newtonards Road.

Last week also saw the opening of 27 new apartments on the Short Strand. The units at Pottinger’s Quay were developed by Clanmil Housing Association but took a lot of work from many quarters, including Sinn Féin, the Short Strand Partnership, St Matthews Housing Association and others to actually see the much needed social housing realised! Its clear that the apartments themselves are first class and worthy of their riverside location, it is also good that families have been able to move in and set up home. Space on the ground floor will also developed into a child day care facility by the Short Strand Partnership Board so there remains exciting times ahead for this site.

Plans for marking the anniversary of the Battle of Saint Matthews are well underway and there’s a wonderful buzz around the area. An Tine Bheo memorial project is taking shape and is a the subject of many a conversation throughout the community. No doubt I will blog more on these issues closer to the time and certainly afterwards.

I joined hundreds of other Béal Feirste citizens at the City Hall yesterday to highlight our disgust at the brutal murder of activists bringing aid to Gaza by the Israeli state. The anger and sadness amongst the gathered crowd was palpable and the incident once again brings home the horror that is life for the besieged Palestinian people. Sinn Féin MLA’s secured a discussion about this issue under ‘matters of the day’ at the Assembly this morning. My thoughts are with them all and I hope those taking part in the aid Flotilla are able to safely break the illegal Israel siege and bring the much needed aid to the people of Gaza. It is hard not to despair and fear the worst at this time given the track record of oppression by the Israeli State. Following the last bombardment against Gaza Sinn Féin activists in the Short Strand took to the streets on what was a horrible, cold and wet night to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestine; doing things like attending rallies, vigils, protests or raising money doesn't feel like enough.

STAD AND SLAD – SAOR AN PHÁILISTÍN!

And here it is............

As much as I am not surprised by anything this group of people (SDLP elected representatives) will do, I must admit that even for me this is difficult to watch.

Náire.

a so called 'Republican' party

So the SDLP are back in London this week swearing an oath of allegiance to the English Queen.

Will be interesting to see how they perform in this new term of the Brit Parliament and will it differ from their abysmal record during the last few terms.

The people, as always, are watching and will be looking to see just what exactly the SDLP can 'deliver' particularly given the fact they spent so much time lauding the importance of that particular institution during the recent election campaign.

UPDATE:

Just in case you are interested, here is what the SDLP MP's will be declaring when they visit Westminster next week:

"I...do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law".

Citizens demand their right to work!

Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty speaks passionately at yesterday's protest outside Leinster House where citizens gathered to highlight their Right to Work!

update

Seeing how I wasn't blogging as much over the election campaign I feel compelled to let you all know what the latest is and how things are going.

Friday will see the AGM of the Short Strand Partnership Board, lots to discuss, resolve and most importantly lots of important matters to continue working on!

The next few weeks will also see the opening of Arás Mhic Airt (Mac Airt House) the extension to Arás Seán Uí Mháirtín (Sean Martin House) at the bottom of Beechfield Street in the Strand. These much needed housing units, which are geared towards the over 55's in order to free up any multiple room housing they currently occupy, are being allocated to those most in need as we speak. Fair play to St Matthews Housing Association for all the important work they are involved with.

Plans are well ahead for our weekend of events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Battle of St Matthews at the end of June. Open auditions were held for those wanting to take part in a dramatic adaptation of that famous night, with over 40 budding actors in attendance. I can't wait to see how it transfers onto the stage and I am greatly excited about the programme of events for what will no doubt be a momentous weekend!

I have also finalised with Conor Murphy's office, plans for him to visit the Short Strand at the beginning of next month. We have much to discuss. For some time now Sinn Féin, alongside the local community, have been lobbying a number of agencies on the future sustainability of the Translink Bus Depot in the district; not only are there major concerns around air pollution and health implications but also about the sheer size of this depot and how it impedes any future development (which is much needed) of social and community amenities. Conor will meet myself and other local community groups and representatives to discuss this matter as well as number of other issues of concern, most notably around traffic problems, in the area.

We are still in the early stages of our exciting plans for transforming 'The Green' at the top of the Mountpottinger Road into something much more suitable and exciting for the local communities. I have been meeting several agencies, including the deputy First Minister's Office, the Housing Executive as well as some of our Councillors at City Hall on this matter and I have meetings penciled in with other groups for over the next few weeks. I'll keep you all updated on this much needed and important project.

The summer will also see the begining of the dismantling of Mountpottinger Barracks. We will once again be calling for a meeting with DSD Minister Margaret Ritchie seeking her department to acquire this land urgently to develop the much needed and much sought after social, family housing.

So don't let anyone tell you because the election is over things calm down, there's a lot of work ahead and that's a good thing!!

ádh mór!!

N

Victory for Michelle

sin é for now

All change in east Belfast

So the Westminster election is over. The votes have been cast and the seats have been won.

Sinn Féin had a tremendous election, for the second time in a row, emerging as the largest party in the Six Counties. In Fermanagh and south Tyrone comrades from across Ireland put in mammoth work to ensure that Michelle Gildernew retained this historic seat against the combined efforts of the Orange Order, the Unionist parties, the British Tories and the SDLP.

Michelle retained her seat, coming four votes ahead of her nearest rival. Well done Michelle.

The election campaign is a tiring period, I am immensely grateful to all those who worked on the party’s effort in east Belfast. More so I am extremely thankful to those people who voted for Sinn Féin in the constituency; it is a very humbling experience to put yourself before the people and to receive a mandate from them. I take that mandate very seriously and commit myself ton continue to represent their needs as a public representative in the time ahead.

For our part, Sinn Féin in the east of the city will be continuing in the coming period with eyes firmly fixed on the upcoming Assembly and Council elections due to take place next year, in particular we have a council seat to retake and I am strongly of the opinion that we can do that.

Naomi Long of the Alliance Party is the new MP in east Belfast, I congratulate her on her achievement, I did so at the election count when we received the official figures from the returning officer. No one can doubt the political significance of her election and the fall of Peter Robinson who has held that particular seat since 1979. No doubt recent scandals, most likely around expenses as opposed to any personal ones, were detrimental to Robinson within vast areas of working class east Belfast. That is certainly the feedback I have been getting for a considerable time from those working class unionists and loyalists that I regularly engage with. So its interesting times and as much as Naomi Long ticks many media friendly boxes the people look on and they expect.

This morning Gerry Adams called for a united approach by the parties here to proactively face down the inevitable cuts coming from whichever form the next Brit Government takes.

A special mention to my good friend and comrade Alex Maskey whose initiative in south Belfast clearly had political ramifications beyond his own constituency. The move by Alex has paid dividends for nationalist and republican representation and I have no doubt will continue to pay dividends but more specifically for the ongoing project and body of work Sinn Féin is firmly committed to advancing in south Béal Feirste.

To analyse the specific results across the north would be massively time consuming but one thing is for sure, Sinn Féin is on the up and those parties with a wreckers agenda were firmly rejected by citizens across each constituency.

I want to take the opportunity to again thank those people who entrusted me with their vote; I look forward to the continued challenges that no doubt lie ahead. A lot of work needs to be done, I think Sinn Féin are the party to do it!

Speak to you again soon.

Beirigí Bua!!

N

update from Alex

You Votin'???!

Sorry I haven’t been able to update the blog as regularly as I would, but I’m sure regular visitors will understand the busy nature of campaigning and if I’m honest, I would much rather spend the best part of my time on streets, at people’s doors, than typing up reports on the blog.

As far as the canvass goes things are looking good!

People are understandably concerned about economic issues, in particular jobs and investment in their communities. A massive issue being raised with me is about social housing and the immediate and real need for more social homes to be built in order to prevent people languishing on waiting lists. People rightly want to stay in the communities in which they were born and reared; in turn they want to bring their own families up in these same, good communities.

Keeping families and people together lends heavily to the important issue of community cohesion and all of the benefits that flow from that. With massive developments taking place on our doorstep citizens in the east of the city want to see the tangable benefits of these future developments. Housing is central to this, but so too is economic and business stimulation, job creating and training opportunities. leisure and sporting facilities and everything that should and must be enshrined in these large scale developments, both Titanic Quarter and Sirocco Quays.

Something raised with me regularly throughout this campaign is the issue of community safety. Concerns about anti-social behaviour are growing all the time; communities can only do so much to prevent that tide from growing, the PSNI have to do more to prevent people from being frightened in their own homes. The idea of our elderly residents being afraid to walk the streets of areas they have spent their entire lives in is unacceptable. I have mentioned the recent, unacceptable behaviour of the PSNI in the Short Strand and intend blogging about it more comprehensively in the time ahead, but for the immediate time being the issues of concern aren’t going to go away. I am glad that I can say Sinn Féin have so far played our role, with others, in bringing the necessary stakeholders and those with specific responsibility in relation to dealing with issues of crime and antisocial behaviour around the table, we must continue to ensure that they deliver on their responsibilities and work to create a safer east Belfast for all.
Last week Sinn Féin held our annual Belfast town hall meeting, this was one of ten held across the Six Counties. What struck me from previous town hall meetings was the growing number of people attending who weren’t Sinn Féin activists. Representaives of the Party leadership, including Gerry Adams, Gerry Kelly, Alex Maskey and Bairbre de Brún MEP. Issues on the night ranged from disability rights, to the parading issue, from social and community investment to the painful subject of suicide. People wanted to know what Sinn Féin were doing in the Executive and more importantly what more we could deliver for people post May 6th.

We’ve been out in force in north Belfast, Gerry Kelly has a very real chance of taking the seat from DUP and Orange Order stalwart Nigel Dodds, who thus far has delivered little for the constituency except attempting to cement sectarian division. Gerry K is the man who can do it, I’m delighted to have been able to join the canvass in support of him and look forward to a few more between now and the election. The feedback on the day was certainly reflective of the desire people have for change and the faith the have in Gerry as the one to deliver it!

In the meantime we have been doing the usual, canvassing, leafleting and getting the posters up!

In the run up to May the 6th we are being contacted by a growing number of people from outside of our core support areas, people wishing us well in the time ahead and contacting out constituency service in their droves. This is a good thing and not least down to the work by Sinn Féin in east Belfast to branch out and engage beyond our traditional areas. Speaking of that though, friends and neighbours in the Short Strand have been giving our canvass team great feedback; they know the party who is on the ground, delivering for them. That party is, and always has been Sinn Féin.
Alex has removed his candidacy in south Belfast; I have no doubt this was a difficult decision for him, Alex is a political leader unequalled in his constituency but given that fact he will acknowledge the reasons this move had to be done, to maximise and consolidate nationalist/republican representation throughout the north. I have no doubt many in south Belfast will be annoyed that no republican is standing in the constituency but be assured that Alex and the south & east Belfast SF team are going nowhere. Our track record in the south of the city speaks for itself and under Alex’s leadership will continue to work on behalf of the people, very much looking forward to the Assembly and Council elections next year. Alex comments on the SF initiative here

Again, sorry this blog post is brief and the postings are becoming fewer but yas know the craic!!!

Beirigí Bua!

NiallÓ


PS I'm writing this during a quick break while working from our office on Bothar na bhFáll before heading back east for another canvass this evening!

PPS My aunt and uncle thankfully got home from Rome safely during the volanic ash disruption but I'd say like most residents in east Béal Feirste, the few days peace and quiet didn't go un-noticed!