Daithí Doolan has come a long way since he left the banks of the Lee in Cork back in July 1987.
Daithí, a former community development worker in Ballymun, was elected as Sinn Féin Councillor for Dublin’s South East Inner City in June of last year. Daithí has been involved in politics for all his adult life, campaigning on a wide range of issues from his involvement in the Anti Apartheid Movement in the 1980s, through the anti-drugs movement in the 90s to the current anti-incineration campaign here in Dublin 4.

He is currently a member of his party’s Ard Comhairle and has been to the fore is developing Sinn Féin’s policy on environment, housing and economic development.

Having been elected to Dublin City Council, Daithí was elected Chairperson of the Economic Development, Planning & European Affairs Strategic Policy Committee (SPC). This committee researches and develops policy for Dublin City. He hopes that this committee will introduce policy which continues to promote Dublin as a city of inward investment while also promoting sustainability, social inclusion & anti-poverty measures.

Sinn Féin has recently appointed Daithí as Dublin Spokesperson on Environment, Economic Development and European Affairs. He is the party’s representative on the National Forum on the Future of Europe where Daithí has argued against a European superstate and for an Ireland of equals in a Europe of equals.

Daithí left Cork back in 1987, having left school, and like so many others emigrated to London. He worked in a wide range of jobs, including shop assistant and store’s assistant in the Tate Art Gallery. He then travelled around Europe working and living in Greece, Turkey and Germany before returning to London. In London Daithí spent much of his time campaigning against anti-Irish racism, homelessness and for a British withdrawal from his native Ireland.

Coming back to Ireland in 1992 Daithí settled in Dublin where he has lived ever since. He very quickly immersed himself in community politics, particularly tackling the causes and consequences of drug addiction. He, along with residents in Ringsend, went on to form the Ringsend & District Response to Drugs in 1995. This was a genuine community response to the drug problem in our area. It is now housed in the Spellman Centre, where is he is currently the Treasurer. In 1997 he married Bridget Kildee, who hails from Michigan USA, and they now have a beautiful daughter, Síofra, who was born in April 2004.

Looking to the future, Daithí remains focused on the work at hand in ensuring that “no incinerator is built on the Poolbeg Peninsula. What Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount needs is homes and amenities. And I have the confidence in our community that we will stop this incinerator.”
Outside politics, Daithí’s interests include history, reading and supporting his native Cork to further All Ireland hurling victories.

If you wish to contact Daithí on any issue that concerns you, he can be contacted at his weekly advice clinic or call him directly on 086-8534666.
Cllr_daithi.doolan@dublincity.ie
Tel: 086-8534666
www.dublinsoutheast.com