Sinn Fein call for local council name change

Sinn Fein MLAs Mickey Brady and Megan Fearon joined South Armagh councillor Roisin Mulgrew to hand a petition into Newry, Mourne and Down Council calling on the new supercouncil to reverse its decision to ignore South Armagh in its name.

The petition was handed over to CEO of NMD Council, Liam Hannaway, along with DVDs to be given to councillors highlighting the unique cultural significance of the area.

Mickey Brady said it was important that the area was recognised as a unique and important part of the new council. “It’s simply unacceptable that South Armagh has been left out of the name of the new council,” he said.

“As a distinct cultural region, steeped in the history and folklore of Ireland, it forms an essential part of the identity of the new council. That is why we have included DVDs of a BBC documentary about Slieve Gullion with the petition to be handed out to each of the new councillors.

“They do a marvellous job in highlighting just how unique the area is and how much it brings in terms of culture and history to the make up of the new council,” he insisted.

“The SDLP and unionist decision to block any inclusion of Gullion or South Armagh in the name of the new council was a deliberate snub to the people of the entire area.”

Megan Fearon said the decision to keep south Armagh out of the name of the new council had caused great hurt and anger in the area. “South Armagh is an area with incredible tourism potential and at a time when we are trying to raise its profile this double blow dealt by the SDLP has caused a serious backlash,” she said.

“Many local Businesses, Community & Voluntary Groups and individual residents have contacted me and my colleagues to register in the strongest terms their anger at this decision.

She added, “We are calling on the council to reconsider its name and introduce something more reflective of the entire region.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Apr 3 2015. Filed under Community, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry