Christmas messages from Laois

Map of Laois

A few words from Deputy Brian Stanley

I would like to wish all party members and supporters a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. A huge thank you to everyone for all of their invaluable hard work and dedication throughout the year. 2012 has been a very successful year for Laois Sinn Féin.  The party has very ambitious plans for 2013 and we are very confident that our goals and objectives  will be achieved through the continued support and determination of each and every party member and supporter across the county. 

Go raibh míle maith agaibh,

Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain Nua faoi mhaise daoibh go léir,

Brian Stanley
Teachta Dála
Co. Laoise 

**************

Message from the chairperson of William Brock Cumann, Sinn Féin Mountmellick:

"2012” has been a busy and productive year for Sinn Féin in Mountmellick. 
Our membership has grown beyond our expectations and the skills and knowledge we now have at our disposal puts us in a strong position to challenge the establishment parties and the warped brand of politics they represent.

In 2013 Sinn Féin must stand shoulder to shoulder with all sectors of our society now under attack from the failed policy of austerity, a policy dictated and designed by our European masters and forced on the Irish people by a puppet government. 
We must provide leadership and a voice to ensure that these punitive measures
that have caused so much hurt and anxiety are totally and utterly reversed.

Let us not underestimate the task ahead. 

Our political opponents are fully aware of the advances made by republicans in recent years and they will do everything in their collective power to stop further advances.   
Expect therefore, in the months ahead, a concerted effort to belittle us, to undermine us and to isolate us.
All this because they fear us .

We must move into 2013 first and foremost as proud republicans confident that we can rise to the challenge ahead. 
Go back to your respective communities, organise and give leadership as only
republicans can. 
Provide the people with a real alternative to the discredited ideology of 'profit before people' that is destroying the very fabric of Irish society.

Connolly once said

" We believe in constitutional action in normal times; We believe in
revolutionary action in exceptional times. "

These are exceptional times.
Bobby Sands in his writings said that:

" everyone, republican or otherwise, has his/her part to play in the
struggle no matter how big or how small that part may be."

Simple yet powerful messages from two of our great revolutionary leaders, 
which, if fully understood and applied to our present set of circumstances, will I believe realise Bobby`s vision, that our revenge will be the laughter of our children."

****************

our editorial team message is :-

To those of you who celebrate Christmas 

and to those of you who don't 

We wish you 

Peace and Health !

Missing Street Signs

Example of a street name sign

For many decades certain streets in Mountmellick have been devoid of street name signs. Rumour has it that the signs were removed during the National Emergency 1939-45 in order to confuse any possible invaders. 

Strange as this may be the civil authorities, both the town council and county council, have during post National Emergency years neglected to replace the street name signs. One can but wonder what civic pride actually means to them ?

Mountmellick Sinn Féin has been pressing the authorities for a considerable time to rectify
this historic problem, thus we are now happy to publish here a letter that we circulated to the residents
a few days ago announcing our satisfaction. 

We look forward in seeing more street name signs erected in the coming year.

18/12/2012

Dear Resident,
                       Following representations to members of the Willie Brock 
Sinn Féin Cumann from the community earlier this year, members undertook a comprehensive survey of missing Street Name Signage in Mountmellick Town. 
Cllr. Stephen Lynch presented the survey findings at a meeting of Mountmellick Town Council and raised the issue on a number of occasions. Apart from the difficulties missing street name signage presents to visitors and to the emergency services their absence also imparts a negative  impression of Mountmellick Town to tourists and potential business investors. Our observation of street name signage in other towns in the Country reveals how poorly Mountmellick compares to them in this regard.

Sinn Féin therefore welcomes the announcement that Laois County Council will erect street name signage at locations in Pearse Street, Patrick Street, Emmett Street and Chapel Street. 
Sinn Féin Mountmellick will continue to campaign for the replacement of all the missing street name signage in Mountmellick Town.

Jane Lloyd  
Runai/Secretary

Mountmellick Sinn Féin  - Serving the Community

The Willie Brock Christmas Social Event

Each year members of the Willie Brock cumann gather in Dowling’s Bar to enjoy each other’s company. A night when all talk of politics is banned, this is the night that we are present solely for our own pleasure to chat, to listen, laugh, sing, play music or quietly enjoy a pint. This year was no different except that our numbers had increased three fold over the previous year, for such is the growing popularity of Sinn Féin.

The sharing of a good joke captured by the 

camera

Hard to know what thoughts are going through 

her head ?

Many are the old songs of Ireland that when played

raise the fervour to unite us in common purpose.

A Carole and a Carol either side of Mary

A ballad singer rests - top left

Our happy banjo player

Contentment is a corner seat.

The Winners of The Christmas Draw

Tom Thompson - €60.00 Meat Voucher

Aaron Lynch - €30.00 Supervalue Voucher

Mousey Lawlor - €25.00 Fuel Voucher

Fred Mathews -€25.00 McElwee’s Voucher

Noele Kelly - Bottle of Brandy

Helen Walshe - 2 bottles of Wine

James Brophy - Tin of Biscuits

The auction of the unique hand made Hurl made by the Brophy family of

Tipperary and personally signed by Martin McGuinness.

The Highest bidder was 

Dick Fitzpatrick top bidder of the Hurl

The inscription

PROPERTY TAX

In Dáil Éireann this afternoon Sinn Féin TD's Pearse Doherty and Brian Stanley made some excellent speeches against the governments propose Property Tax.

For full texts please visit www.sinnfein.ie

Laois Sinn Féin Protests

The Savagery of the Fine Gael/Labour Government 

Budget December 2012

The carer’s annual respite care grant – paid to about 70,000 families each year – is being cut by €325 to €1,375. The grant allows carers to buy additional supports as part of a package of care and support for all family members. By their work, love and attention carers save the country €4 billion.

Further cuts to child benefit of €10 per child for the first and second children, of €18 for the third and €20 for fourth and subsequent children.

The end of the €300 cost of education allowance which will impact on the unemployed and the poorest lone parents

About 20,000 pensioners are to lose their full medical card and have it replaced with a GP-only card, it has emerged.

The trebling of the prescription charge to €1.50 for medical card holders.

The increase of the drug payment scheme threshold from €132 to €144.

The abolition of the weekly PRSI threshold for all workers earning more than €352 per week or €18,304 per annum.

On Saturday 8th December members of Laois Sinn Féin and the United Left Alliance joined forces to demonstrate in Portlaoise against the bitter cuts unveiled by the Fine Gael/Labour government.

The demonstrators outside of the AIB & Bank of Ireland

Sinn Féin's Brian Stanley T.D. & demonstrators outside  Labour Senator John Whelan's constituency office.

A new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute of December 2012 has found that 22% of the Irish population is living in jobless households, which is double the average across Europe.
This figure stood at 8% in 2010, similar to the European Union average.

The study says household joblessness should be recognised as a risk factor for poverty, and found that welfare payments were the most effective way of reducing poverty.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Associate Research Professor with the ESRI, Dorothy Watson said:

"We're not just talking about unemployment when we're talking about joblessness in households because there are other statuses...apart from unemployment that people who are not currently in employment might have.
For instance they may be caring, they may be looking after young children, they may consider themselves unable to work because of disability