South Down prepares for major Ógra expansion

With already two well established Ógra Cumainn in the county, Down is proving to be an area of exceptional growth for the party at Ógra and senior level. With in the space of two short years, Ógra membership has doubled, three new Sinn Féin Cumainn have been formed and the party slashed the SDLP majority in South Down from 10,000 in 2005 to less than 400 in 2007 (328 to be precise.)

In fact in 1997 only 1 voter out of 10 voted Republican, now 1 out of 3 vote Sinn Féin, without question, a transformation is taking place.

In the new year, Ógra members representing both the Pádraig Pearse, South Down and Castlewellan/Newcastle East Down Ógra will meet to discuss and plan the next stage of Ógra expansion in the county.

Róisin Mc Greevy, organiser of East Down Ógra Shinn Féin believes that the county still holds huge potential.

‘’I have no doubt that Ógra will continue to grow, for us this is only the start.’’

She continued:

"We already have another group of young people joining in the new year from the Ballynahinch area.’’

Her views are shared by Lisa Travers of South Down Ógra:

"We are expanding and we are growing, Ihave no doubt that 2008 will be our year.’’

She continued:

"I believe that the potential is there to form at least two new Ógra Cumainn in the early stages of 2008, one in lower Mourne and a second in Ballynahinch’’.

‘’Our aim is to establish Ógra throughout the county I know we can and we will,’’