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Peter Armstrong
Chair
Peter is a 21 year old entrepreneur and
political enthusiast from South Belfast.
He has worked as an Auxiliary Press Officer
in the SDLP Press Office at Stormont and
more recently as a Political Assistant in
the South Belfast MPs Constituency Office.
He is now self-employed and works for his own web hosting business.
As a party member, he involves himself in
electioneering, party conferences and work
experience with them. Peter was elected
to the SDLP Youth Executive in 2005 as PRO
, 2006 as University & Colleges
Officer and 2007 as Vice Chair. He is a member of the Stranmillis
Branch and a delegate to the South Belfast
Constituency Council.
Katherine McCloskey
Vice Chair
Katherine is a 20 year old Politics student at Queens' University.
She first became involved with the SDLP through the Queens' branch, of which she
is now Chair. Katherine is also heavily involved with the SDLP in her native North
Belfast, where she is currently secretary of the Bellevue/Whitehouse branch. As
well as this, Katherine has recently begun working for Carmel Hanna MLA, in the
South Belfast Constituency Office.
She believes that the SDLP's founding aims of civil and human rights for all are
still as relevant today as they were almost four decades ago. Katherine's particular
interests include Human Rights, Equality and Justice, and Health.
Away from politics, Katherine is keenly interested in all aspects of the Irish
culture and is an advocate and practising speaker of the Irish language. Furthermore,
she has a keen interest in sport, especially football. As Vice-Chair of SDLP Youth,
she hopes to address some of the pressing issues affecting young people today.
Shane Boyle
Campaigns Officer
Shane is an 18 year-old student from Eglinton, County Derry. He has just finished his
A-Levels at Saint Columb's College in the city, where he claims he first became interested
in the world of politics.
Shane fervently believes that 'all politics is local', something he wishes to bring to the
fore of the executive.s agenda in the 2008-2009 period.
Shane first joined the SDLP Youth in 2007, following a summer internship at Mark Durkan's
Foyle constituency office. This opportunity gave Shane a true insight into the ideals,
values and indeed the great work the SDLP does on the ground.
In the next year, he hopes his role as Campaigns officer will allow him to build
upon and strengthen the good work done on past campaigns as well as offer a new
voice to the campaign strategies of the year ahead.
Liam McNulty
Public Relations Officer
Liam is an 18 year-old student who joined the SDLP because of his support for their
social democratic principles and has since been active on the SDLP Youth Executive
and in his local branch. His role on the Executive is to liaise with the media and to
manage press coverage for SDLP Youth.
As a committed socialist, Liam believes that SDLP Youth should promote issues that really
matter to young people such as the raising minimum wage, and that the party should continue
its great work at ensuring civil and human rights for all the people of Ireland and
further afield, regardless of their background.
Liam's interests include jazz music, reading about history and politics and antagonising
right-wingers.
Michelle Byrne
University & Colleges Officer
Michelle is a 21 year old final year politics student at Queens
University. Michelle first became involved in the SDLP via the University
and has since maintained a very active role within the party. Michelle is
currently the Secretary of the Womens Group and vice-chair of SDLP at
Queens.
Michelle visited Seattle in 2003 to take part in a very special conference
organised by the University of Washington which ran for a couple of days.
During this time Michelle was the guest speaker from Ireland. Following a
successful conference Michelle was then asked to return to Seattle the
following year, this time to explore the Israel/Palestine debate with
other UW and Seattle University students.
Michelle believes that with a strong Executive and an able youth group
that the SDLP Youth can win even more support from the Youth of Ireland.
In her spare time Michelle likes to enjoy her music and is a very keen
Irish Traditional singer.
John O'Doherty
Secretary
John is a 24 year old Equality officer, originally from Maghera in Co.Derry but now lives
in Belfast. John has been an SDLP member for 8 years and is a previous SDLP Youth Chair.
John currently represents SDLP Youth on the SDLP Executive Committee.
Before taking up his
current post as Equality Officer John worked as Constituency Organiser for the SDLP and before
that as political assistant to Carmel Hanna MLA. John was a candidate in the 2005 Local
Government Election for Belfast City Council in the Victoria ward, but sadly was unsuccessful.
John is currently vice-chair of the South Belfast Subgroup of the Belfast District Policing Partnership.
Aisling Twomey-O'Connor
Treasurer
Aisling Twomey-O.Connor is 27 years old and holds a BA Hons American Studies. Since
joining the SDLP staff, Aisling has immersed herself into political life of the
Party. She has been elected as Secretary for Lagan Valley Branch and recently been elected
Treasurer for SDLP Youth Executive Committee.
Aisling has been heavily involved with Politics for most of her adult life and she
held several important roles within her University and Student Union. Aisling has
lived and worked overseas but returned to Northern Ireland in 2005 in order to play
her part in moving Ireland to a better and brighter future.
Her main political interests are Social and Equality Issues, Arts and Health. But
outside of Politics, Aisling is a keen thespian and supporter of the Arts.
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