Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin president elect, officially cut the ribbon recently to open the new Sinn Fein office in Mary Street in Castlewellan.
After talking to local people and shopkeepers on a ninety minute walkout Castlewellan town centre, Mary Lou McDonald returned to the office to do the honours.
Speaking at the opening ceremony to the local Sinn Féin supporters, she said: “I am delighted to be in Castlewellan to open this facility. I met with many people today from the Castlewellan area and was encouraged by their support to the party and to the opening of our new constituency office.
“This new office will give the recognition to those volunteers who made the ultimate sacrifice and we want you to know that will will never forget them.
“We can’t undo anything in our past history and the context of it. We must live in the present… the setting up of this office has been a great team effort.
“We are now at a historical tipping point in our history and I firmly believe we can achieve our goals in the next decade and ending the partition of Ireland towards a new era of Irish unity.
“Everyone then will have equal rights and respect and I am so proud to walk that journey with all of you.”
Sinn Féin’s South Down MP Chris Hazzard said the opening of the new Sinn Féin constituency office in Castlewellan “will facilitate the provision of a first-class constituency service for the local community.
“This launch was also attended by Sinn Féin President elect Mary Lou
McDonald, alongside local community leaders and grassroots activists,
“The official opening of the newly refurbished Sinn Féin constituency office in Castlewellan was a fantastic opportunity to bring together civic, business and community leaders to launch our new facility.
“This will not be my office, but this will be our office, and a first-class constituency service for all those in need of assistance.
“I am looking forward to working from this new facility for every citizen in South Down, while working towards community initiatives for the benefit of our constituency.”
