Sinn Féin fielding strong team in upcoming Student Union Elections

Sinn Féin na nOllscoileanna selected their candidates to stand in the up and coming Student Union sabbatical elections in Queens and Jordanstown. Grace Lynch, a final year student in Queens, currently studying Politics and International Studies, hails from Castlederg, Co. Tyrone.

A life long community activist she has been involved in Sinn Fein for around 5 years, holding various positions locally and at Cuige Level. Grace has been instrumental in the success of Queen’s University Sinn Fein over the years and has helped build a lasting and strong Ógra Shinn Féin Cumann in Castlederg. Grace will be hoping to build on the strong vote gained last year, and take the vote a step further and secure a seat.

Speaking at the selection conference Grace said,

“I feel honoured to be selected to represent the party within Queens Students Union. We are entering these elections to win, and using the great work carried out on campus by the Sheena Campbell Cumann as a foundation to our campaign I feel we are hitting the ground running. I have a great team around me, and I look forward to the coming weeks when we will canvassing doors in and around the Holylands. As with every Sinn Féin activist, if elected I will be working on a basis of equality, for all students.”

Within the Jordanstown Campus we will be running 2 candidates, Paul Short and Liam Duggan.

Liam Duggan, a second year student in Jordanstown, is currently studying Politics with Sociology. Liam is from Lavey in South Derry and has been strongly involved with Sinn Féin both locally for four years and with Sinn Féin in the colleges. Liam has a keen interest in active citizenship and also has a keen interest in the GAA and plays both Hurling and Football for his local club, Lavey GFC. Liam is also heavily involved with various cross community organisations and is Chairperson for one of these groups.

Liam was also appointed a leader for a delegation of ten young people from across the north that went to Sweden for two weeks on a youth leadership and cross community programme. The programme lasted 8 months in total.

Speaking at the selection conference Liam said,

"I feel both honoured and excited to be selected to represent the party along with my good friend and comrade Paul to contest the Student Union elections in Jordanstown. We will be entering these elections to win and to build on the vote won by Caolán Quinn last year. We have a strong Cumann and vibrant support structures around us and I am looking forward to campaigning and working to build a better students union for the students of Jordanstown and the Universtity of Ulster in general. If elected I will continue to work for equality and ensure that discriminatory practices are eradicated within the university and Sinn Féin is afforded the same respect as the other parties."

Paul Short, a first year student in Jordanstown, is currently studying Politics. Paul is originally from the Ardoyne area of Belfast but has been partly brought up near Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, before returning back to Belfast when he was 15. Paul is determined to help Sinn Féin achieve its aims of Irish reunification and equality for all. He has a keen interest in international politics (particularly Latin American politics), traveling, history, music and he also plays GAA football for his local club Pearse's.

Paul has been involved with numerous charities and has held fundraisers for various causes including raising much needed money for a Cambodian orphanage which he visited whilst backpacking through South East Asia in July 2008.

Speaking at the selection conference Paul said,

“I feel extremely grateful for this chance to represent both Sinn Féin and also the concerns of the students of this University in the upcoming Student Union elections in Jordanstown. We are all very eager to get stuck into the work ahead and are hoping to build on the vote won by our good friend Caolán Quinn and with the support of my follow comrade Liam and the rest of our great support structure within the University I believe that this is completely achievable. If elected I will ensure that every voice is heard and strive for equality within the University wherever it is not present and also ensure that Sinn Féin are well represented and respected within our University.”