Write a commentA packed out Public meeting organised by Sinn Féin at the Carrickdale Hotel gave members of the public an opportunity to engage directly with the Party Leadership.
Education Minister John O Dowd gave all those present an honest and frank assessment of the current political and economic situation. South Down MLA Chris Hazzard and Mickey Brady MLA also contributed to the nights discussions and participated in the Question & Answer Session which was chaired by south Armagh Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD was unable to address the meeting due to the ongoing Dáil debate and vote on the issue of Water Charges that evening.
Commenting on the event which attracted nearly 500 people Mickey Brady who will be fighting the forthcoming Newry & Armagh Westminster seat in 2015 said “It is our firm view that we want to go out and listen to the views and opinions of our people as we face into a Westminister election and a new Assembly term in 2016. Sinn Féin is the only party that regularly engages with the community in this fashion;presently we are holding a series of Town Hall type meetings to give citizens out there an opportunity to engage directly with the party leadership. The engagement tonight was informative, challenging, honest and frank. People are under no illusions as to the difficulties faced but there was a general consensus that the onus was on us as a political party and as elected representatives to continue on the course we are on in pusuit of our objectives".
