A first for Cork North West constituency as Sinn Féin’s Ryan to open Millstreet office

Sinn Féin senator Nicole Ryan is to open an office in her native Millstreet, which will be the first time that the party will have a base location in the Cork North West constituency.

Ms Ryan was a general election candidate for Sinn Féin in Cork North West last year and while she missed out on a Dáil seat, the 31-year-old secured 5,452 first-preference votes.

She said she now intends to be a strong voice for Sinn Féin in the Seanad.

Speaking to The Echo, Ms Ryan highlighted the need for the new Millstreet office.

“Sinn Féin have never really had a base in Cork North West. It is pretty important, so that people around Cork North West have somewhere where they can physically go to see me if they want.

“We want to give people an alternative. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, there is plenty of constituency offices around. But Sinn Féin has never had one [in Cork North West].

“But now is the opportunity to have one. That is really important to give people the alternative, because there are thousands of people who voted for me in the general election.

“So, it is really for them and for anybody that is looking for help, that they can have an alternative office to go to. But equally, I will still be out in the community and meeting people.”

Ms Ryan was recently elected to the administrative panel of Seanad Éireann.

She is looking forward to embarking on life in the Seanad, which held its first sitting since the election on Wednesday.

“It has been very busy, and I am still trying to find my feet,” she said.

“It is just about getting set up and getting into the swing of things. But I am enjoying it... I still care about all of the issues that I cared about in the general election.

“I obviously have a portfolio that I will be working on. So, it will be looking at women’s health, addiction, which is a huge part of what I do, youth work and young people.

“As well as that, one of the things that I think has fallen by the wayside is the means testing for carers. Everybody was shouting about it during the election, but everything has gone silent around that.”