Sinn Féin Cllr Mark Ward has been selected as the Sinn Féin candidate to contest the by-election in Dublin Mid West. Cllr Ward was first co-opted onto South Dublin County Council in 2016 to replace Eoin Ó Broin TD. In 2018, he was elected as Mayor of South Dublin. In the local elections in 2019 Cllr Ward topped the polls and was elected on the first count in the Palmerstown/Fonthill LEA. Cllr Ward is a behavioural therapist and has worked for numerous of community-based organisations over the years. Cllr Ward was formally nominated by Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid West Eoin Ó Broin. Party president Mary Lou McDonald was the key speaker at the recent election convention in Clondalkin.
Speaking after the selection convention, Cllr Ward said: “I am honoured and humbled to be selected as the Sinn Féin candidate to contest the upcoming by elections in Dublin Mid West. “I look forward to the challenges that will arise and I will do what I have done my whole life and take them on with honesty and resilience. Since I was co-opted onto the Council in 2016 I have worked tirelessly for the people I represent. “The status quo in this country needs to change. We need a change from the flip flop Governments of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, propped up by right-wing Independents. “The people of North Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Lucan area gave me a mandate at the last local elections. I was proud to be elected on the first count. This will give me the foundation needed to contest and fight the upcoming by-election. “The people of Dublin Mid West have a chance to say enough is enough. We have had enough of poor quality transport. We have had enough of inadequate healthcare. We have had enough of rip off rents. “Sinn Féin want to give the working people and families of Dublin Mid West a break.”