PoliticsMid Ulster Report

Sinn Féin’s Cathal Mallaghan comfortably retains stronghold of Mid Ulster for party

Mallaghan succeeds outgoing Francie Molloy of SF after coming some 15,000 votes ahead of DUP candidate Keith Buchanan

Sinn Féin MP for Mid Ulster Cathal Mallaghan celebrates his election with Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Jack White
Fri Jul 5 2024 - 14:00

Another Sinn Féin stronghold, the party has held a seat in Mid Ulster at every UK general election since Martin McGuinness took the DUP’s seat in 1997.

Francie Molloy has retained his seat at each election since 2013. The 73-year-old announced in February he would not contest this election saying it was time to make way for “new blood”.

In the home constituency of Sinn Féin leader Michelle O’Neill, it was no surprise that new candidate and Mid Ulster councillor of 13 years Cathal Mallaghan retained the party’s seat comfortably with 24,085 votes.

This saw him with some 14,923 votes ahead of DUP candidate Keith Buchanan.

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On securing the party’s seat, Mr Mallaghan paid tribute to outgoing MP Francie Molloy, saying he has spent his “entire adult life” serving his community.

Having served under the party for the past 39 years, he is one of the party’s longest-serving representatives.

Mr Mallaghan said those in Mid Ulster have “voted for decisions about their lives and their future to be made here at home in Ireland”, he said.

“They have rejected 14 years of British Tory cuts,” he said.

“This Mid Ulster community is strong when it works together. We have seen our strength when we set shared goals and objectives and as an MP, I hope to take those skills and relationships to further improve the quality of life for everyone who calls this place home,” he said.

Jack White

Jack White

Jack White is a reporter for The Irish Times

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