Mark Ward (politician)
Mark Ward | |
|---|---|
 Ward in 2019 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office November 2019 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Mid-West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | sinnfein |
Mark Ward is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Mid-West constituency since the 2019 by-election.[1][2][3]
Early life
[edit]Ward grew up in Harelawn, north Clondalkin and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005.[4] He is a qualified behavioural therapist, having diplomas from NUI Maynooth and University College Dublin and a B.A. in Community Development and Addiction Studies from IT Carlow.
Political career
[edit]Ward was co-opted onto South Dublin County Council on 14 March 2016, representing the Clondalkin local electoral area.[5] He was elected Mayor of South Dublin in June 2018, serving until June 2019. He was reelected to the council in the May 2019 election, this time for the Palmerstown–Fonthill local electoral area. On 30 November 2019, he was elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2019 Dublin Mid-West by-election.[6][7] Lisa Colman was co-opted to Ward's seat on South Dublin County Council following his election to the Dáil. Despite predictions that he would lose his seat, he retained it at the 2020 general election, alongside his running mate Eoin O'Broin.[8][9]
Personal life
[edit]Ward has three children.[5] He is a fan of Dublin Gaelic footballers, and has a full back tattoo of the Dublin GAA crest.[10] From November 2016 until 2017, he was homeless, and this experience has resulted in him vowing to focus on housing as his main priority in politics.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Mark Ward". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Sinn Féin wins by-election in Dublin Mid-West". RTE News. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ McEnroe, Juno (30 November 2019). "Byelections 2019: 'Good day for working class' as SF's Mark Ward takes Dáil seat". Irish Examiner. Cork. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021.
- ^ Ward, Mark (21 February 2018). "Dublin councillor with MS: 'I was on a walking stick at 32 ... now I plan to run the marathon'". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Mark Ward to be co-opted to Clondalkin LEA to replace Eoin Ó Broin TD". www.sinnfein.ie. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020.
- ^ Kenny, Aisling (30 November 2019). "Sinn Féin takes first seat in four by-elections". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2019.
- ^ O'Halloran, Marie (30 November 2019). "Byelection Dublin Mid-West: Sinn Féin's Mark Ward elected". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Holland, Kitty (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Dublin Mid West results: Jubilant scenes as Gino Kenny takes final seat. Fine Gael's Emer Higgins also elected while Fianna Fáil's John Curran loses out". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Election 2020: Dublin Mid-West". The Irish Times. Dublin. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Byrne, Luke (17 September 2016). "True blue councillor Mark has the Dubs' back". Herald.ie. Dublin: The Herald. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021.
- ^ O’ Flaherty, Aideen (5 July 2018). "New Mayor reveals how he became homeless". Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
The newly elected Mayor of South Dublin County Council and Sinn Féin councillor for Clondalkin, Mark Ward, revealed during his acceptance speech on Friday that he was homeless for several months during 2016 and 2017, and that housing will be his top priority during his mayorship.