The title of the campaign is 'The West's Awake - from Kerry to Donegal we demand our rights’. They called on all political parties and organisations in the west of Ireland to come together to agree a platform to ensure the survival of the west.

Over the next week, Senator Pearse Doherty will join Sinn Féin TD for Kerry North, Martin Ferris, TD to launch the campaign in Clare, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, and Kerry. Launches in the other counties on the Western seaboard will then follow in the weeks ahead.

Senator Doherty is producing an official report for the Oireachtas committee on community, rural and gaeltacht affairs on 'What is required to develop the West of Ireland'. The report will be presented to the committee before Christmas.

Beginning in Donegal on Monday, Senator Doherty and Deputy Ferris will be holding meetings in every county from Kerry to Donegal to allow local communities to have their say. Senator Doherty and Cllr Mac Lochlainn met delegations from Donegal IFA and Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce after the launch on Monday to discuss the purpose of their party's campaign and to invite submissions to Senator Doherty's report.

During the summer they also intend to hold public consultation meetings in towns and villages across the west. Anyone who wishes to make a written submission on what needs to be done to ensure the survival of the west should send it to pearse.doherty@oireachtas.ie

Senator Doherty said: "At the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis this year, I spoke out on the need for elected representatives from all parties and all organisations representing the west of Ireland, from Kerry to Donegal to come together to agree a platform to ensure the survival of the west.

"The west of Ireland is suffering death by a thousand cuts. Recent years have seen the loss of traditional farming, fishing and manufacturing jobs, the closure and running down of public services, the withdrawal of public transport and the closure of rural schools, shops, pubs and Garda stations. It is time to fight back.

"People in the west of Ireland have a right to share in the prosperity of the state. They have a right to a decent job, have a right to proper transport links, a right to adequate public services and a right to all of the amenities that allow you to live a full life. But none of this will happen by chance.

"The government has not made any serious effort to regenerate the west. The election of a Taoiseach from rural Ireland and the appointment of a Tánaiste from Donegal is an opportunity for change. If everyone who really cares about the West come together and demands change we can put pressure on the government to act. Together we can put the west of Ireland at the top of the political agenda.”