SDLP Youth

SDLP Youth is made up of a collection of young people from various backgrounds right across the island of Ireland, working creatively to ensure the voice of youth is heard in Irish politics.

SDLP Youth plays an active role within the SDLP at all levels of the organisation. It consists of party members aged 30 and under and is entitled to representation on the Party's Ruling Central Executive. Among its members are included councillors and party officers.

It has particularly strong international ties with sister organisations such as JUSOS in Germany through ECOSY and IUSY.

The current Executive Committee was elected at the SDLP Youth Annual Conference on 13th and 14th April held in St Paul's Parish Centre, Falls Road, West Belfast, on the 20th anniversary of the election of Joe Hendron as MP.

 

National Executive Committee Members:

*Chair- Conor McNeill (Lagan Valley)                   

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A twenty-five year old QUB Law graduate from Lisburn, Conor is also former election candidate and also managed Cllr Pat Catney’s campaign during the 2011 Assembly and Local Government Elections. Conor is also passionate about Social Justice, Law Reform, Human Rights, Reconciliation, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. In his spare time, Conor is a voluntary project worker for the Law centre and a keen Lacrosse player.

*Vice-Chair- Séamas DeFaoite (South Belfast)                 

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Séamas is a twenty year old Party activist based in South-East Belfast. He contested the 2011 local government elections in the Pottinger DEA of Belfast City Council and is also a member of the party executive.  He has a keen interest in the areas of poverty, educational disadvantage, parading and Irish Unity. Outside of the SDLP, Séamas is a collector of vintage political paraphernalia and has a deep interest in American politics, architecture and visual design.

*Secretary- Brian Watters (Newry and Armagh)              

e-mail:bawatters@hotmail.co.uk

Brian is currently Secretary of Keady Branch SDLP and also Chairman of Armagh Youth Branch. He aims to create an even more organizationally efficient SDLP Youth. Brian is very interested in the regeneration of his constituency of Newry & Armagh.

*Treasurer- Colm O’Connor (Foyle)

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Colm O’Connor is nineteen years old and originally from Dublin, although he now resides in Derry City. He is a past pupil of St Columb’s College like many other SDLP members such as John Hume, Mark Durkan and Colum Eastwood. He currently studies politics at QUB where he has served as the treasurer for the SDLP branch. Colm is an avid sports fan and follows many teams. His main interests include studying political theory, current affairs, and watching television.

 

*Campaigns Officer- Kyle Boyd (South Down)                  

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Kyle is a twenty-three year old student from Warrenpoint. He has been a member of the SDLP for five years and has been part of campaigns for a variety of SDLP representatives. He has also served on the SDLP Youth executive for three previous terms. During his time in politics, Kyle has been keenly involved in areas such as higher and further education, taking part in the protests against the raising of student fees.

*Public Relations Officer- Dermott Henderson (Foyle)                

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At 18, Dermott was the youngest ever SDLP candidate in the 2011 Local Government Elections in the Cityside ward of Derry. He is currently studying History and Irish at QUB. A keen Gaeilgeoir, he has a passion for the promotion and use of the Irish language. He also has an interest in the continuing redevelopment strategy for Derry City.

*Universities and Colleges Officer- Cormac Kerr (Foyle)                             

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Cormac is an eighteen year old QUB student from Derry. He has been involved in the SDLP for two years having spent time working for both former MLA, Mary Bradley, and having been part of the election team for Mark H Durkan MLA during the last assembly election. He has a passion in the areas of Irish unity and international affairs.

*Equality Officer- Dione Todd (West Tyrone)

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Dione is a nineteen year old QUB student based in Omagh, although originally from Castlederg. She has been involved with a variety of local youth groups such as the Omagh Youth Council, Millennium Volunteers and the Omagh Community Youth Choir.  She has been an active member of the student community at QUB, Chair the SDLP branch there and participating in several human rights and equality societies. Dione also has a keen interest in playing the guitar and singing, she also enjoys Rugby, reading, drawing and Irish history.

*International Secretary- Killian Feehan (Newry and Armagh)

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Inspired by the peaceful, constitutional politics of John Hume and Seamas Mallon, Killian joined the SDLP in 2007 when he was aged 15. Since then he has taken part in four election campaigns in his home in Newry. An avid humanitarian, Killian has been active with local charities, organising fundraising events for African missions as well as Palestinian schools. Killian sees the SDLP as the only party that can deliver on the promise of the Easter proclamation, whereby we cherish all the children of the nation equally. He feels that now, more than ever before, Ireland needs a party that will put aside tribal politics and invest in the next generation.

*Policy Officer- Gareth Brown (West Belfast)

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Gareth is a final year student of Philosphy, Politics and Economics at Queens University. He has a keen interest in policy and institutions of government. He is a member of the Andersonstown branch of the SDLP. He was inspired to get involved in politics through his grandfather, Jimmy Fulton. In his spare time, Gareth enjoys singing and amateur music theatre and works for Sport Northern Ireland as a racquet sports development officer.