Sinéad Stewart is an upcoming Independent candidate for Inishowen and is a long term community activist.
Stewart, who is from Burnfoot and lives in Buncrana, was recently endorsed by Thomas Pringle TD for the upcoming Donegal elections.
My Donegal… with Sinead Stewart
(1) Where is your favourite place in Donegal and why?
How can you have only one favourite place in Donegal?
(2) How do you like to spend time off in the county?
On a beach on horseback, although I haven’t been able to do that for a while. I’ll be back at that this summer hopefully.
I’m quite content jumping in the car & letting the roads take me where they will. There’s always a gorgeous view or a great place for a bite to eat just around the corner.
Rodden’s bar in Buncrana is a great pub for music & craic, and The Cyclists Rest, or The Brae as it’s known.
(3) Who is the one person in Donegal that you look up to and why?
My late father, Patsy Stewart. He was pretty well known all over the county and beyond, especially in darts circles.
Everywhere I go people still talk to me about how much of a gentleman he was.
At Christmas time all the bars would play for turkeys and hams and he would win them all, then give them all away to everyone.
He was kind, generous, doted on Mammy & his children & grandchildren and was absolutely always, always full of mischief.
(4) What do you think is Donegal’s best tourist attraction?
Grianan of Aileach without a doubt. There’s something very grounding in standing in a place built thousands of years ago.
It’s still very under-rated, given that it’s so historic, and is aligned to the solstice, apart from by those of us fortunate enough to be from there of course.
I’m glad to see there’s a bit more care being taken of it now, I’d like to see a tour guide there during the summer going forward.
(5) Do you prefer Donegal summers or Donegal winters?
Summers! Summer means late evenings, beaches, horses, barbeques, bars.
(6) What is your favourite Donegal-made product?
Football Special
(7) Who is your favourite Donegal sportsperson of all time?
Eamon McGee
(8) What is your favourite Donegal restaurant?
The Railway Tavern in Fahan
(9) If you could change one thing about Donegal what would it be?
Most of our politicians. It’s past time we had more progressive women in positions of
(10) What is your favourite Donegal saying or expression?
Whole han’lin
(11) What is the biggest challenge facing the people of Donegal today?
The biggest challenge facing Donegal people is the one facing everyone everywhere, climate change.
We need a bit of joined-up thinking from the council & the government.
With Brexit looming we’re increasingly isolated. We’re at risk of becoming
(12) What is your favourite Donegal food?
The seafood chowder in Nancy’s Barn
(13) Is there anything that really annoys you about Donegal or its people?
Yes, a lot of our politicians.
(14) Do you have a favourite local band?
Don’t Fear The Natives.
(15) If you had a million euro to improve something in Donegal what would it be?
A million euro wouldn’t go far enough but any investment in good, decent, green jobs would be great for Donegal people.
(16) Is there anything about Donegal that you are very proud of?
Donegal people.
Our friendly, community orientated, resilient people.
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