Dáire Hughes (born 1989 or 1990) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Newry and Armagh since 2024.[2]

Dáire Hughes
Hughes in 2024
Member of Parliament
for Newry and Armagh
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byMickey Brady
Majority15,493 (33.7%)
Mayor of Newry and Mourne
In office
25 May 2014 – 2015
DeputyBrian Quinn
Preceded byMichael Ruane
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of Newry and Mourne District Council for The Fews
In office
January 2014 – 22 May 2014
Succeeded byCouncil abolished
Personal details
Born1989 or 1990 (age 34–35)[1]
Newry, Northern Ireland
Political partySinn Féin
Alma materQueen's University Belfast

Early life and education

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Hughes is from the Meadow in Newry, Northern Ireland. He was educated at St Patrick's Primary School, St Colman's College, and Queen's University Belfast.[3]

Career

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A former shop steward, Hughes has worked in the community voluntary sector in Newry and Armagh. He was elected to Newry and Mourne District Council for Sinn Féin, serving as its last and youngest-ever mayor,[3] but failed to be elected to its successor Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.[4]

After serving as a councillor, Hughes became a Sinn Féin political manager in the European Parliament. At the time of his election to Westminster in 2024, he was the party's deputy general secretary.[3]

At the 2024 United Kingdom general election, Hughes was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Newry and Armagh, succeeding Sinn Féin's Mickey Brady, who stood down as an MP. Hughes won the seat with 22,299 votes, gaining 2,012 more votes than Brady at the 2019 general election.[4]

References

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  1. ^ McKenna, Micheal (11 June 2014). "Dáire Hughes elected Mayor of Newry & Mourne". Armagh I. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Newry and Armagh - General election results 2024". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c O'Hare, Columba (27 May 2024). "Dáire Hughes selected by Sinn Féin to Contest Westminster Election". Newry.ie. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b Graham, Seanín (5 July 2024). "Sinn Féin's Dáire Hughes takes Newry and Armagh seat with ease". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Newry and Armagh

2024–present
Incumbent