Aontú’s Mary T Sweeney to run in General Election

Aontú’s Mary T Sweeney described her party’s foray in the forthcoming General Election as “a giant step forward and a sign of Aontú’s steady growth the length and breadth of Ireland.” 

Formed a little over five years ago, Aontú intends to stand over 30 candidates, offering an electoral alternative nationwide. 

Speaking before Saturday’s launch of her General Election campaign in The Vestry, Letterkenny Town Park at 7pm, the Aontú candidate for the Donegal constituency said: “What we have achieved in the space of a few years with limited resources and no government funding, has been phenomenal. Only three months ago we contested every Irish constituency in the European Parliament Elections where Aontú won 5% of the vote in Donegal, making us the fourth largest party in “the Forgotten County”.

Almost securing victory in the recent Council Elections has boosted her goal of representing Donegal in the Dail.
“Aontú has given me the opportunity to provide a voice for those deserted by the main establishment parties of FF, FG and SF who offer nothing for Donegal,” said Ms Sweeney.

The well-known Letterkenny activist laid out her priorities as she sets out on the campaign trail: “We need to address the growing chasm between the lives of the people in Donegal from an increasingly detached Dublin government on the bread and butter issues of Housing, Health, Education and Immigration. I am deeply angered by this government’s incompetence. Aontú is committed to ensuring that rural counties such as Donegal are no longer “Forgotten” and disregarded by a small political clique who are out of touch with what matters to people outside the wine bars of Dublin 4.

"Aontú is no home for payroll politicians. We are a campaigning party with policies decided by grassroots discussion, unlike those “weather-vane parties” whose PR consultants hold a finger in air to see which way the political wind is blowing. Aontú’s principles are simple and clear – to take up the torch of struggle and defend the values of Life, Unity and Justice.”

Aontú party leader Peadar Toibin said: “Aontú is delighted to have Mary T as a candidate – someone who has an unrivalled record advocating for the needs of people in Donegal. Mary T will not stand idly by. Her record of brave and consistent campaigning will give the public confidence that, if elected, she will deliver for Donegal.” 

Ms Sweeney concluded: “Supporters of FF, FG and SF are recognising the hard work local Aontu activists have put in on the ground over the past five years and are now turning to Aontú. I strongly urge all who feel politically disenfranchised to attend my election campaign launch this Saturday 7pm at The Vestry in Letterkenny Town Park, and join Aontú’s journey to build a successful All- Ireland electoral alternative.”