Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Michelle Gildernew MP Fermanagh South Tyrone

Michelle Gildernew is in her 20's and is from Dungannon, County Tyrone. Her mother was a leading member of the civil rights movement and was centrally involved in the campaign against discrimination in the allocation of council housing in the six counties - a campaign which sparked the origins of the Civil Rights movement.

After leaving university Michelle travelled extensively in Europe, the United States and Australia where she worked for a year. On her return in 1996 she stood for Sinn Féin in the Forum elections for Fermanagh/South Tyrone. In 1997 she was appointed Sinn Féin representative to London, a position which she held until her election to the Assembly in 1998. While in London she was part of the first Sinn Féin delegation to Downing Street in December 1997.

She has been a member of the party's Ard Chomhairle (National Executive) for five years and has served on the Equality sub-committee and the Women's Forum.

In the last Assembly she served as Vice Chair of the Committee of Social Development and was a member of the Committee of the Centre as well as statutory and ad hoc committees. She is party spokesperson on Equality and Housing.

Michelle Gildernew was elected MP for Fermanagh/South Tyrone in June 2001 and relected on 2005.