EAST INISHOWEN
Seamus Bovaird
Seamus Bovaird is a retired ship's captain and
ex-manager of Foyle Fishermen’s Co-Op. He is a
self-employed marine consultant. He has good experience
of working in board and committee environments, having
served on the governing council of his trade union,
chaired the fishing sector sub-committee of the Irish
Government Taskforce on Employment and Training in the
Fishing Industry, sat on the Marine Sector Working Group
of the Donegal County Council Taskforce, represented the
fishing interests on the Donegal County Council
Strategic Planning Committee and is currently on the
board of Londonderry Port.
In the voluntary sector, Seamus is currently chairman of
Greencastle Community Centre and a director of the
Inishowen Maritime Museum in Greencastle. In the
recreation sector he is safety officer of Moville Boat
Club and registrar of Moville GAA Club.
Seamus has been successful in sourcing and drawing down
funding from EU, NDP and other sources for projects in
the commercial, voluntary and sporting sectors so will
be able to appreciate the problems of volunteers as they
try to find financial support for their individual
projects.
Robert Carey
Robert is a small farmer who has been involved in
community development for the past 25 years. He has
resided in the Bredagh Glen area all his life. Robert is
a director of Action Inishowen, Carrowmena and District
Development Association and Youth and Recreation
Carrowmena. He is a life-time member of the IFA and
Irish Kidney Association and also a former vice chair of
the Inishowen Football League. If elected, Robert is
looking forward to a grassroots approach to community
development and drawing down funding for Inishowen.
Toni Devine
I have been active in the community for ten years across
Inishowen. I have worked with community groups locally
and cross border. At county, regional and national
levels, I have worked to increase participation, access
and quality of services for both rural and disadvantaged
people. I support the fair distribution of funding
grants and enterprise throughout Inishowen. We can
develop Inishowen by using and protecting our unique
resources and heritage. I am a stickler for justice and
fair play so I will be supporting good governance in the
new company. I like listening to and encouraging new
ideas for our future.
Martin Farren
I have been involved in community groups for many years
and also was a local business man running a small fish
merchant shop in Moville. I am married to Eileen with
three children. At present, I am the president of the
SVP in Moville, member of the Donegal Fisheries Board
and Moville Hall committee. I feel I am hard working for
the community and understand the needs and concerns of
the area and would be a great asset to the board.
Conall Gillespie
Conall is 44 years old and has lived in Quigley’s Point
all his life. He is president of Drung SVP, a board
member of Muff Sheltered Housing, a former secretary of
Quigley's Point Community Centre for 10 years. Conall
sees this election as an opportunity to give a voice to
the groups in East Inishowen.
Laurie McGee
I am currently chairperson of Quigley's Point Community
Centre and sit on the Southeast Inishowen and Culmore
Area Strategy Steering Group. I have worked with many
groups in North and East Inshore as a community
development consultant, IT trainer and volunteer. I have
been involved in the community since coming here in 1990
from the US. I have worked and volunteered in the areas
of health, parenting, special needs, childcare, tourism,
organic farming and the environment. First and foremost
I am married with four children and my husband Patsy is
a full-time farmer. I recently started working full-time
as a town planning consultant with Canavan Associates
Ltd. In November 2006 I was awarded an MA in town and
country planning from the University of West of England,
Bristol. With my skills and experience, I can contribute
a lot to the new joint board of management. I would do
my best to represent the East Inishowen area if elected.
Helen McIntyre
Helen is a member of the Greencastle Women's Group and a
member of the board of management of Moville Community
College. Originally from Bundoran, Helen came here to
work in 1973, married and settled in the area. She has
four children aged from 12 to 18 and is obviously
interested in the facilities that are available for
youth and the educational services provided. As a
‘blow-in’, Helen feels that if elected, she could
contribute a fresh outlook and would highlight all the
areas that she feels are in need of enhancement and
assistance in Inishowen.
Hugh McLaughlin
Hugh is a native of Gleneely, self employed and married
with five children. He is chairperson of Gleneely
Development Association, Gleneely FC and Sports
Committee and a member of the board of management of
Gleneely NS. Hugh holds a Diploma in community
development from University College Galway. If elected,
Hugh will focus on the youth of Inishowen and reach out
to them through the medium of sport. He believes that
there is a sport for everyone that provides a great
social outlet for the young.
NORTH INISHOWEN
Jim Campbell
Jim is a native of Inishowen, occupation, bus driver.
Jim has shown a life-long interest in the rights and
needs of people with mental handicap/learning
disability. He has been a member of the Inishowen
Parents and Friends of the Mentally Handicapped since
the mid '70s, holding the post of chair since 1985.
He is presently fighting for funding towards the
proposed new Donagh Resource Centre in Carndonagh. He is
a member of Carrowmena Football Club and a committee
member of the Inishowen League. He has also been
involved with senior citizens groups since 1967.
Albert Doherty
Married to Carmel, with three boys, Albert is a primary
school teacher in Carndonagh. He is a board member of
Inishowen Rural Development Ltd. (Community Rep) and
Inishowen Community Radio. He is a subcommittee member
of Inishowen Partnership Company (Education) and current
chairperson of Carndonagh Football Club. He was a member
of Donegal County Council 1999-2004 in the Inishowen
Area. The needs of the Inishowen peninsula are unique
for many reasons, believes Albert, including
geographical, cultural and historical. The many talents
of the local community and the potential for the planned
development of the peninsula are also unique now, given
the anticipated benefits from a new financial Euro
Programme and the positive effects to be had from the
new administration in Northern Ireland according to
Albert. He has represented and worked hard for Inishowen
Communty groups and individuals in the past. He is
seeking your community nomination and vote in Inishowen
North to represent you on Inishowen’s new development
company and to ensure that the voices of youth and
elderly, sport and culture, disadvantaged and disabled
are listened to.
As a former chairperson of Carndonagh Development
Association, Albert is aware of the keen and dedicated
voluntary work ongoing in all communities and parishes.
Albert Doherty will work to ensure that Inishowen’s
deserved economic regeneration needs are met and that
marginalised voices in Inishowen are heard.
Geraldine Fullerton
Geraldine is a programme assistant and a personal
assistant with the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA),
helping with clients to ensure as normal a life as
possible. She is very involved with the swimming club
and attends regularly with IWA clients. Geraldine comes
from Tooban and is married to Pat. They have four
children. She is a signer for the deaf. She believes
that the IWA need a voice in the community and someone
to advocate on their behalf. If elected, she promises to
be that voice.
Gerard Lafferty
Born and bred in Glengad, Gerard runs his own frozen
food business and has been actively involved in
promoting the development of the Glengad area over the
years. He sees the election as an opportunity to further
promote development of the area and the whole of the
Inishowen peninsula. He has experience of working with
Glengad Community Association and the parish Leader team
and feels that he would have a valuable contribution to
make to the new board
Susan McGonagle
Susan is a member of Ballyliffin Development Ltd. and
the Beach Walkers Group. She was Lady Captain of the
Golf Club in 2006. She is the agreed candidate selected
at the meeting of Community Groups in Clonmany Area.
Susan has been living in Ballyliffin since 1996, a
former member of Donegal County Council with a post
graduate diploma in Rural Development. She feels she
would be the ideal candidate to be on the Board of the
new Company because of her involvement in the community.
Sheenagh McMahon
I have been working with Inishowen Women's Outreach for
the past six years as a support worker supporting women
and children who are victims of domestic violence.
Through my work I network closely with community groups
and statuary bodies throughout the country. Working
within the community has made me extremely aware of the
importance of community involvement. I have a great love
for Inishowen and would be very passionate about the
environmental and rural development of our beautiful
peninsula. If elected I would work hard for the
community in a honest and fair manner.
Gerard Moyne
My name is Gerard Moyne and I live in Carndonagh. I am
married with three children and I live and work in the
peninsula.
I have worked in the Inishowen peninsula all of my life
and on a voluntary basis I have been a member of
Carndonagh Development Company for seven years and have
been vice chair for several years. I have also been
county secretary for the Red Cross and was co-opted on
to the international committee of the Irish Red Cross
with responsibility for overseas projects. I have been
involved for a number of years as a business mentor for
small community-based businesses and have assisted cross
border with Business In The Community (BITC). More
recently, I was a guest speaker to Strabane District
Council on their THINK BIG initiative. At a local level
as well as CCRDC, I am involved with the playground
group and I also assist with other youth and community
groups. I am one of the founders and a facilitator on
Inishowen Fathers group and was actively involved in
setting up the Inishowen Men's Helpline. I know that
given my wealth of experience at both local community an
international level, I am well equipped to represent the
community of Inishowen and I work very well both as an
individual and as part of a team. I am a diligent
practical hard-working person.
Charlie O’Donnell
I have lived in Malin Head for the past 16 years and I
am greatly involved in the fishing industry. I am now a
member of the Malin Head Fishermans Co-Op but I was
originally a fisherman. I would like the chance to have
the voice of the fishing community heard and I would be
delighted to represent them.
SOUTH INISHOWEN
Margaret Bell
Margaret is a native of The Parish (Desertegney) – born
and bred. She is a member of SVP and manages the Ozanam
Centre in Buncrana.
Margaret loves her work and sees it as providing a
service for those in need more than a profit-making
organisation. If elected, she would like to continue her
work as an advocate for the disadvantaged and sees it as
an opportunity to promote the much-needed support for
people in need.
Frances Browne
I am a community development officer with NCDI,
Newtowncunningham, for four years now and prior to this
in the St. Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre.
I work with and support over 20 groups in the Newtown,
Killea and Burt areas. My reason for standing for
election is to represent the neglected areas of
Inishowen - Newtown, Killea and Burt. Also to ensure
that the new Partnership Company has a strong voice for
the community sector and to apply whatever skills and
expertise that I possess to the success of the new
company.
Noel Devenney
Noel is a member of the Newtowncunningham, Burt and
Killea Care of the Aged committee and is involved in
local church committees and is chairperson of Newtown
Neighbourhood Watch. Born in Newtown, he was in the Army
for 32 years and is now retired. He would like the
opportunity to bring more benefits to the locality and
Inishowen as a whole and would work towards this if
elected.
Edward Donaghy
Edward is an active member of the North Pole Cycling
Club. Originally from Cockhill, he now lives in Gransha.
He would like the chance to do something for his local
area and Inishowen as a whole and sees these elections
as an opportunity to do so.
John McCarter
I have been involved in community-based work and
enterprise for the past 25 years. I am chairman of Fort
Dunree Military Museum and Donegal County Enterprise
Fund. I serve on the Donegal County Enterprise Board and
County Development Board. I am a deputy launching
authority with Lough Swilly RNLI and an integral founder
member of Inishowen Friends of Messines, which is a
group dedicated to peace and reconciliation-building. As
a former director of WP McCarter & Co/ Fruit of the
Loom, I am familiar with employment issues in the
Inishowen area.
Danny McLaughlin
I am a member of Dunree Museum, Donegal Information
Services, CIC, Friends of Messines, Inishowen Wildlife,
Farset Inishowen and the Raptor Study Group of Ireland.
I am an active member of various community groups as
diverse as director of Dunree Museum, director of
Donegal Information Services to cross border/cross
community relations in Friends of Messines and Farset
Inishowen. I have been a community representative on the
IPC board of management for the past seven years and if
elected, I would continue to work hard to continue the
social and environmental development of Inishowen.
Michael McLaughlin
Michael comes from Carndonagh but now lives in Buncrana.
He is an active member of Schizophrenia Ireland and the
local Mental Health Support group which was set up about
ten years ago. This involves attending monthly meetings
and national conferences held in Dublin. If elected,
Michael would continue to lobby for the organisation, to
try to influence Government policy in order to promote
good mental health and well being.
Don McNeil
A native of St. John’s Newfoundland, Don has been living
in Buncrana for the past 13 years. He is active in the
Inishowen branch of the Forever Fathers Group and also
sits on its county committee. Currently, he is involved
with the Ulster-Newfoundland Initiative and the Buncrana
Halloween Carnival. He would like to have an opportunity
to give a voice to separated fathers. |
