Mairéad O Donnell

She has worked within the community sector in the Short Strand area for over 20 years and, from 2014, has been full-time Coordina- tor of the Short Strand Partnership, a successful social enterprise business.

Mairead has vast experience in dealing with a range of statutory bodies including Belfast City Council, Department of Justice, The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, the Housing Executive, PSNI and the Parades Commission.

Mairead is a former Sinn Féin Councillor for the Titanic Electoral Area from 2016 to 2019. In 2017 Mairead took the position of Chairperson of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee, one of Belfast City Council’s strategic committees and was also a mem- ber of the Community Committee. She is currently Honorary Chair of Belfast International Homecoming – the largest gathering of the Diaspora in the North and is member of the board of Visit Belfast.

Mairead is also currently working on a number of campaigns including engaging with the developers of the Sirocco Works, making the case for the provision of much needed social homes on that site.

She is also campaigning for Translink to relocate their depot to a more suitable location, allowing the land to be brought into community use for much needed homes and community facilities.

She has also been a strong supporter of the Irish language, mar– riage equality, LGBT rights, and women’s and workers’ rights. Mairead is committed to Irish unity and the demand for more social homes and jobs for the people of East Belfast.