Do You Want To Help?

This is our 3rd and final edition of "Independent Voice" before the council elections of May 5th.

Thousands of copies have been delivered to Newry households and we have been delighted with the positive and enthusiastic response.

Handing out leaflets and election material, putting up posters, canvassing and raising money are just some of the ways that you can help Davy Hyland’s campaign to get elected to N.M.D.C. If you would like to play any part in this important election please contact us at 07801 676567 or 028302 66633

Jobless Total Rises Again

Local council candidate Davy Hyland has criticised the new jobless figures for April 2011.

Davy said "The jobless total has risen again in the North of Ireland. It now stands at 59,000, an increase of over 3,300 over the past 12 months, the highest rate in the last 13 years".

Hyland Stated "Our people cannot face the future with any confidence given the fact that even more public service cutbacks are earmarked for the most vulnerable and needy in society, imposed by the coalition in Stormont at the bequest of the Tories in London"

However Hyland concluded by say that "Newry people do have an opportunity to reject such cut backs at elections to be held on 5th May.

CAB In Crisis???

Citizen Advice Bureau’s have always provided a comprehensive and very worthwhile service to the general public especially in areas like Newry which has traditionally suffered unemployment and poor housing.
However a local O.A.P. who approached the local CAB branch in relation to a complicated social welfare form, was shocked to discover that CAB’s no longer helps in relation to this matter. Everyone knows that such agencies are under pressure from the increasingly bureaucratic nature of the DHSS but surely CAB’s have a duty to help the most needy and disadvantaged in society.

Hogan Cup Returns to Newry

Davy Hyland has sent his congratulations to reigning All-Ireland champions St Colman’s following their success in a thrilling Hogan Cup final.

It was St Colman’s eighth Hogan Cup title and their second in succession.

Why No City Centre Manager?

 

Independent candidate Davy Hyland at one of Newry’s many pot-holes

 Every prominent town throughout Ireland "normally" has a town manager whose main priority is to promote and highlight the outstanding characteristics of the individual town and to resolve any issues that affect or detract from the towns’ development
and progress.

Independent election candidate Davy Hyland has said "Given that Newry has had the "honour" of city status for the past decade, it seems mighty strange that this area has had NO City Centre manager for several years and yet the office (based in Hill Street) continues to be funded from several sources, the main one being Newry & Mourne District Council and you the ratepayer."

Hyland continued "No one can deny the fact that Newry City has problems on several fronts- The Hill St area is a ghost town after 6pm, footpaths and streets in the city centre continue to deteriorate, the river and canal are in a shocking state of neglect band disrepair whilst in the Drumalane Rd and Dominic St areas local residents are up in arms over the loss of car parking facilities outside their own homes.

"These issues and many others would be in the domain of a City Centre manager and yet such a person does not exist. "

Hyland concluded "It is high time for the issue to be resolved and a full time accountable City centre manager appointed ASAP."

Educational Maintenance Allowance Must Be Defended

The Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is under threat in the North of Ireland following the decision by the Tories in Westminster to Scrap it altogether in England.

The EMA is paid to young people from lower income families who commit to continuing in further education.

However in the face of massive budget cuts, Stormont ministers are considering whether to follow the example of their colleagues in England and axe it here.

There will be no changes to funding during the 2011/2012 academic year but no guarantees about it’s future survival have been given after this time.

Davy Hyland stated "Around 24,000 students in the North currently receive the EMA and hence it is a vital lifeline into further education and training for many of our young people."

Hyland further stated that "young boys and girls are already bearing the brunt of the draconian cuts and abolishing the EMA would be another step towards consigning a generation of these young people to the scrapheap

Newry- Glasgow Celtic Links

Visit Parkhead at any Celtic home game and you are bound to come across a good few "Newry heads" who have made the pilgrimage to Glasgow whether by air or by sea.

Call into any Newry pub for an Old Firm match and you’ll come across scores if not hundreds of Hoops fans.

The affinity, indeed love, for Glasgow Celtic is very strong and shown in many ways. A number of Celtic supporters clubs, including St Mary’s, St Brigid’s, AOH (sadly no longer with us), South Down Number 1 and Ballyholland are based in the Newry area and make regular trips to Celtic Park.

Some of the local football teams such as Newry Celtic, Cleary Celtic and Killowen Celtic proudly wear the Hoops colours every Saturday in the Carnbane league.

Perhaps the best and longest link between the two is Willie Maley who both played for the club and was their longest ever manager who gave 52 years of unbroken service to the club.

Willie was born in Newry in April 1868 and was brought up in the Linenhall Square (Mourneview Park) area of the town.

It has long been a hope of Newry fans that a fitting memorial should be erected in the city which would not only honour Willie Maley, but also recognise the links between the people of this city and the Glasgow Celtic Football Club.

Cuts Target Our Most Vulnerable Children In Newry

Children with severe learning disabilities attending Rathore school in Newry are in danger of losing their Music Therapy sessions due to the cuts in the health service budget.

Davy Hyland said:"This service provides weekly sessions for individuals and groups enriching the lives of children with behavioural and multisensory needs as it has a calming effect on pupils and can also help with communication.

It is outrageous that the health minister could even consider removing funds for such a critical service for young children across the north.

It is important we raise awareness and support for the families of the children who attend Rathore School in Newry for we cannot sit back idly and let the government at Stormont target our most vulnerable, young and old. "

Hyland concluded: "We the people of Newry should speak out loudly and clearly on this matter and let those in power know that enough is enough. If we allow them to remove budgeting for such a vital service, we are opening the door to even more cuts within the health & social care trusts, and our most vulnerable children will suffer even further. "

Bottle Banks for Armagh Road

During a leaflet drop of the Armagh Road (Drumgullion ward) a number of local people approached Davy Hyland regarding the non-provision of Bottle banks in the area.

One irate householder complained that he had to travel miles across the city if he wanted to deposit bottles, cans and papers in a green and environmental fashion.

Given the fact that two new supermarkets are being built in the area, surely space should be provided to allow the installation of council bottle banks

Hyland to Contest Council Elections in May 2011

• Will provide honest, effective representation of all the people
• Has an impeccable track record
• Will challenge the establishment parties
• Has 20 years experience in local politics

DAVY Hyland has topped the polls each of the three times he was elected to council by the people of Newry.

Now, following a short spell away from politics, he has decided to run again to give the people of Newry fair, honest and effective representation on Newry and Mourne District Council as an independent candidate.

Explaining his decision to contest the local government elections on May 5, Davy said: “I believe council has become inert and is in need of a shake up. That was enough to make me consider trying again.

“I've watched with growing concern as schemes that were being talked about back when I was first elected made no progress and, in some cases, slipped away.”

“The situation with the Albert Basin, the sports complex, those things have been allowed to falter and fall. It's symptomatic of, what I think, is a wider lethargy that's set in at council and I believe the ratepayers aren't getting value for money.”

“I want to do what I can to change that and play my part in a more proactive and energetic council.”

Davy, a married father-of-two, spent three terms as a councillor on Newry and Mourne District Council, topping the poll at each election. He was an MLA at Stormont for a short period.

“Being in Stormont was also a factor in my decision to stand down. Back then it was dormant, an Ivory Tower and I felt very out of touch with the reasons I'd gotten into politics in the first place.”

“Politics is my passion – it's what I did my degree in, it's what I taught when I was a full-time teacher. Councils, even with their limited powers, can get things done and make a real difference to people's lives – that's what it's all about for me.”

Our Roads Need Sorted

Independent council candidate for Newry, Davy Hyland, has bitterly criticised the state of Newry roads following the December freeze.

“When Newry was granted city status eight years ago we were promised significant changes to the area’s infrastructure to ensure that Newry would be able to compete with the neighbouring cities of Belfast and Dublin,” said Mr Hyland.

“However, Newry still retains the unwanted accolade of being one of the worst bottlenecks in the whole of Ireland and this problem is compounded by the intolerable state of the roads that are characterised by ever increasing cracks and potholes.”

“As one who cycles the roads of the city every day of the week, I can vouch for their dismal deterioration, especially since the Christmas period.”

“Surely it is time Roads Service and the Minister got their act together and instigated a comprehensive and far-reaching review of the state of Newry’s roads and acted accordingly.”

Nail The Lie

Independent candidate Davy Hyland has called on Newry voters not to be misled by voting misinformation in the run-up to the forthcoming local government election.

“In the run up to the local elections, the establishment parties will once again peddle misinformation, particularly about how you can vote for only one candidate in one of Newry’s seven electoral wards,” said Mr Hyland.

“Furthermore, they also state that you can only vote for a candidate who also lives in the same ward as you do - nothing could be further from the truth.”

“The reality is that any voter in Newry, whether in Derrybeg, Drumalane, Barcroft or the Warrenpoint Road, can vote for any of the listed candidates.”

“Moreover, as this is a PR election, voters can and should use electoral choice by voting 1, 2, 3 in order of preference.”

“This newssheet believes that you should cast your first vote (the most important one) for a candidate with experience, honesty and integrity.”

Look Out For Your Neighbours

Independent council candidate Davy Hyland has called on residents to look out for vulnerable members of the community.
 

They use the cover of darkness to carry out their despicable deeds and then slither back under their stones, leaving a trail of emotional destruction behind them.”

“We will always have these cowards in our society so it is vital that people are alert and vigilant at all times and particularly look out for their elderly neighbours who are, unfortunately, all-too-often the targets of these spineless thugs.”

“We have to stand together as a community and stand up to people who bring nightly fear to the people who deserve to live their lives without fear of attack.”

Mr Hyland was commenting after a pensioner in Carnagh Park in Newry was the target of burglars for the third time in just two years.

“People are rightly disgusted by this latest attack on an elderly member of our community.”

“The cowards behind these sort of attacks prey on the most vulnerable members of society and have no regard for the devastating affect that this type of incident can have on a person.”

Get Registered!

Knowing from past experience it is quite clear that large numbers of local people are still not included on the electoral register

Remember, even if you are over 18 and have lived in Newry all your life, you will not be able to vote on May 5 if your name is not included on the above register.

However, there is still a small window of opportunity for people to be included.

The cut-off date is April 14 and you can contact Banbridge Electoral Office with information on your full name, date of birth, full address and postal code.

They will send out a form and envelope to ensure your rightful registration.

If you have any difficulty with this matter please contact Davy Hyland on 07801 676 567 or Stephen Murney on 07525 446 629.

We will be more than happy to help you with this important matter.