Gearóid Ó hEára (centre) is congratulated by SInn Fein MLAs Mitchel McLaughlin (left) and Raymond McCartney on being selected as the party’s candidate for the Foyle constituency in May’s Westminster election.
Former Mayor of Derry, Gearóid Ó hEára, is to contest the Foyle constituency seat for Sinn Fein at next May’s Westminster election.
The 61-year-old was elected unopposed as the party’s candidate at a selection convention held in the Tower Hotel tonight.
Speaking following his selection, Mr Ó hEára described it as “a great honour” to be selected by the city’s republicans to contest the election, adding he was confident of winning the seat which has been held by the SDLP’s Mark Durkan since 2005.
He added: “It really is an honour to do this and I intend to give it 100%.”
Proposing Mr Ó hEára, Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney said anyone who knew the newly selected candidate over the past 40 years “knows the type of professionalism he brings to everything he does.”
Mr McCartney added: “He will not want to leave any stone unturned to bring out every possible vote for Sinn Fein.”
The proposal was seconded by former Derry City Councillor Mary Nelis who said she was “honoured” to support Mr Ó hEára’s candidacy adding he would make an “amazing” MP.
Mitchel McLaughlin, Sinn Fein MLA for South Antrim and Deputy Speaker at the Northern Ireland Assembly, said the party had selected a candidate who “ticked every conceivable box.”
Mr McLaughlin added: “We could not have come up with a better or more suitable candidate.”
In the last Westminster election, held in 2010, Sinn Fein’s Martina Anderson lost out by over 4,000 votes to Mr Durkan.
However, Sinn Fein will be going into the upcoming election buoyed by the fact that in last May’s local government elections they topped the poll in the Foyle constituency by over 600 preference votes.
Born in 1953 in Derry city, Mr Ó hEára has a BA Hons degree in Irish Studies, a diploma in Further and Higher Education and an MBA.
Mayor of Derry from 2004-2005, he is a member of the Northern Ireland Police Board and an Irish language activist, he is the current chief executive of Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, winning praise for his role in staging the hugely successful All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil during Derry’s year as City of Culture.
During his time as a Sinn Fein councillor on Derry City Council from 1989-2005, he was a board member on the Derry Port and Harbour Commission (2001 – 2005) and Western Education and Library Board (1989-2000).
He is also a former board member with Arts Council NI (2003-2007).
He is also chairperson of Derry Oireachtas na Gaeilge Committee, Derry Glór na nGael Committee and Governor og Gaelscoil éadan Mhóir in Derry and a board member of Ciste Infheistíochta Ghaeilge.
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