The three Sinn Féinn candidates to contest the local elections in Carlow, Mark Callinan, Nicoleta Chiorean and Ruairí Doyle.
Photo: Thomas Nolan Photography.
Andrew and Aaron Kelly.
Photo: Thomas Nolan Photography
Alan Hanks chairman of County Carlow Sinn Féin was MC for the launch of three local election candidates.
Photo: Thomas Nolan Photography
Mark Callinan with his family.
Photo: Thomas Nolan Photography.
Nicoleta Chiorean with her family.
Photo: Thomas Nolan Photography
Ruairí Doyle with his family, Declan Doyle, Annmarie Grant and Madie Doyle.
Photo: Thomas Nolan Photography.
By Elizabeth Lee
SINN Féin has launched three candidates to run in the Carlow Municipal District in the upcoming local elections.
Mark Callinan, Ruairí Doyle and Nicoleta Chiorean’s election campaigns were officially launched on Monday 15 April in New Oak Community Centre, Carlow.
The trio welcomed family, friends and Sinn Féin members to the gathering before introducing themselves to the crowd.
It’s the first time that any of the three have run in a local election, but Mark and Ruairí have been working within the Sinn Féin party at various levels for several years.
Active locally in the party for the past decade, Mark is the current chairperson of Carlow Sinn Féin and volunteers with numerous local groups. He has lived in Carlow town all his life, is married to Sarah and has three young daughters. Working for the HSE in mental health services for the past 25 years, Mark is employed as a mental health clinical nurse manager in St Dympna’s Hospital, Carlow.
Mark’s political priorities lie in community development, an expansion of infrastructure such as the town bus service and greater provision of healthcare services, especially CAMHS resources in Carlow.
Ruairí is also originally from Carlow and has worked full-time in politics for more than ten years, both in the Oireachtas and the European Parliament. During that time, he has worked as a national press officer and directly with Sinn Féin TDs. He currently works with deputy Seán Crowe, chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee.
Ruairí’s political priorities include the regeneration of Carlow town centre, finding a solution to the ever-growing problem of housing and greater investment in Carlow’s natural and built heritage.
Nicoleta has said that it was her “absolute privilege and honour to be nominated as a candidate for the Carlow town local government elections”.
The mother of three has been living in Ireland for the past 24 years and is a naturopathic medicine graduate who is currently working as a medical herbalist in her own private practice; she is also a nutrition teacher.
Nicoleta’s priorities include housing, the development of a recreational and wellness centre in Carlow town and the growth of small businesses, sports clubs and voluntary associations.
