Following a recent Sinn Féin candidate selection convention held in Kilronan Castle, Ballyfarnon, County Roscommon and attended by Claire Kerrane TD (Roscommon-Galway) as well as Martin Kenny TD for Sligo-Leitrim-North Roscommon-South Donegal and Chris Mac Manus MEP (Midlands, North, West), the party have confirmed the selection of Leah Cull from Arigna to contest this June’s Local Elections in the Boyle LEA, alongside Rory Williams Doyle from Scramogue and sitting Councillor Michael Mulligan of Ballaghaderreen.
Leah Cull was born and raised in the Arigna valley in north county Roscommon where she looks after the family farm with her younger brother Brian. She is a proud committee member of North West STOP suicide prevention organisation, which provides a vital service by offering free counselling to people of all ages. She delivers mental health and well-being talks to businesses, schools, colleges and clubs across the North West as well as being half way through an honours degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Among Leah’s priorities are investment in tourism for the region, a significant improvement in health and mental health services, better access to care, services and transport for older citizens, increased support for sport and youth development, delivery of local authority housing in rural towns and villages enabling individuals and young families to build a life in their own community and proper investment in roads and public transport for Roscommon.
Speaking at the candidate selection convention, local TD Claire Kerrane said: “Leah is a fantastic candidate for this area. It is no small feat to put yourself forward and stand for election as a representative in any constituency but I have no doubt that Leah will have the backing of her community and indeed that people will feel a sense of pride to go out and seek support for her during the campaign. Leah is someone who cares for people and that is so much of what is important about public representation. For twenty years Sinn Féin Councillor Michael Mulligan has been the sole party representative on Roscommon County Council but I really looking forward to him being joined by Leah, Christine McDonagh, Joe Harney and Rory Williams Doyle next summer.”
Teachta Dála in the nearby constituency of Sligo-Leitrim, Martin Kenny also spoke at the convention: “We’re going to have to be on every doorstep in this election. Leah is an excellent candidate who will not just serve the community but who will serve the country. Electing her alongside our other local election candidates is about ensuring a brighter future for our rural economies and for our rural towns and villages that have been left behind for too long.”
(Leah is pictured seated front centre in main submitted photograph)
