By Daire Hughes
I wish everyone in Newry and Armagh a merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Christmas presents a great opportunity for people to take a break and to catch up with friends and family. I would encourage everyone to maximise this opportunity – enjoy yourselves, bí ag ol agus bí ag ceol!
The last six months serving as your MP have shown me the depth and strength of our communities. People in Newry and Armagh work hard and look out for one another. I’ve also seen the immense need in our community. Many people struggle at Christmas for a variety of reasons; from financialpressure to dealing with loss or loneliness or caring for loved ones.
I know we will continue to show the best of ourselves and continue to look out for one another, and for our vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours in the weeks ahead. I also know the generosity of our people will shine through once again. We have always been incredible in supporting local charities and community organisations at Christmas. The level of community activism and volunteerism in our area is astonishing. There are too many groups to name and there is barely a family in this constituency that hasn’t been supported, in one way or another, by our community and voluntary sector.
I’m also conscious that not everyone gets a break at Christmas. Those who work in essential frontline services and those who work in retail or hospitality, can be busier than ever at Christmas. The work these people do is immensely important and we are forever indebted to them. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
Christmas also offers us an opportunity to reflect on the year past and look forward to a new beginning in 2025. We will face many challenges in 2025, but working hard together we can improve the lives of workers and families and help make Newry and Armagh an even better place to live, work and invest in.
As we plan to wrap up for a few, hard-earned days off, please spare a thought for the beleaguered people of Palestine. There will be no break, no holiday for the people of Gaza as they endure the horrors of Israel’s ongoing genocide. Christians across Newry and Armagh will be celebrating Christmas as the most important day of the year. The fact that this horror is continuing in the Holy Land should be a source of anguish for all.
Nollaig shona daoibh go léir agus athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh!
Dáire Hughes MP
CLANRYE NEWS 