11 Facts About Colin McGrath

Colin McGrath MLA was born on 21 October 1975 and is an Irish Social Democratic and Labour Party politician from Northern Ireland.

Colin McGrath has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Down since the 2016 election.

Colin McGrath then became a youth worker in Patrician Youth Centre, Downpatrick for 17 years.

Colin McGrath was first elected to the Down District Council in 2005 as a councillor for the SDLP.

Colin McGrath served as both chair and vice-chair, becoming the youngest ever chair of the local council.

Colin McGrath entered Assembly politics when he contested the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, being elected with 5,110 first-preference votes alongside fellow SDLP candidate Sinead Bradley.

Colin McGrath was re-elected in the 2017 snap NI Assembly election.

Colin McGrath has highlighted rural issues, accessibility to local services such as the Downe Hospital and youth issues as his main priorities.

Colin McGrath has criticised the eleven-plus transfer system, arguing that a level playing field is required and condemning the branding of 11-year-old children as "failures" if they fail to achieve high marks.

Colin McGrath has served as chairman and Health Spokesperson for the SDLP.

Colin McGrath ran in South Down at the 2024 general election, finishing second with 10,418 votes, to Sinn Fein's Chris Hazzard.