West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Councillor Charlene O'Hara

Twinbrook woman Charlene O'Hara was co-opted onto Lisburn council in November 2007 to replace Jennifer McCann and, in the process, became the youngest councillor in Ireland at the age of only 20.

Charlene was born and raised in Twinbrook and attended St.Marks primary school and St.Colms secondary school.

She is now studying for an education degree specialising in P.E. at St.Marys University College on the Falls Road.

From a young age Charlene has thrown herself into many different projects.

At the age of 17, she was part of an Irish delegation of young leaders who took part in a public speaking tour of the European parliament in Strasbourg.

In 2007 she was part of a young political leader programme that visited Washington and Boston.

In the summer of 2007, she took part in Project Zambia, which involved a group of young people from Ireland working alongside locals in a Zambian village on a number of building projects.

Charlene joined Sinn Fein at the age of 17, initially working with the party's election department.

In 2007 she was appointed to the role of secretary of the west Belfast Sinn Fein comhairle ceantair and was also vice-chair of Twinbrook Sinn Fein cumann.

In June 2008 Charlene was nominated for the position of Lisburn mayor.

Charlene's main interest is education and she is passionate about the need for change in the education system which is being championed by the education minister, Caitriona Ruane.