The Alliance Party leadership and members were in South Down this weekend on the back of a very successful local government election, which saw Alliance take two seats on the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council.
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Councillor Patrick Clarke and Alliance Leader David Ford in Newcastle Centre presenting South Down Alliance Secretary Mary Smyth Farr with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of her 44 years service to South Down Alliance since the Alliance party was first founded in 1970.[/caption]Sitting Councillor Patrick Clarke was joined by newly elected Councillor Patrick Brown in welcoming Party Leader David Ford, Deputy Leader Naomi Long, DEL Minister Stephen Farry, MLAs Trevor Lunn, Anna Lo and Kieran McCarthy and a large number of Party delegates to the Newcastle Centre on Saturday as the Party’s quarterly Council met. Councillor Patrick Clarke said: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome the Alliance Party membership base back to Newcastle, especially after the successful election result we had locally. “For the past four years I have been a lone voice on the Council, but over the next five years there will be two Alliance voices seeking to represent everyone in the area and I’m looking forward to working with Patrick to deliver for all.” Councillor Patrick Brown added: “This was the first meeting of the Alliance Party’s delegates since my election and it was great to be able to welcome everyone to Newcastle. I’m really looking forward to hitting the ground running and working to deliver the united society that everyone in the Newry, Mourne and Down area deserves.” Alliance leader David Ford said: “The Alliance Party’s growth in this area is a direct answer to those who claim Alliance is only a Belfast-based Party. The Alliance vote is growing in Newry, Mourne and Down and it is a fantastic result to see two hard working Councillors elected here – two Councillors dedicated to delivering the Alliance Party’s core values of a shared future for everyone in the area.”
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