Sinn Féin appoints new Council chair and Lord Mayor across two districts

by Gráinne Connolly

At yesterday evening's annual AGM meetings, both Fermanagh and Omagh and Derry and Strabane District Councils appointed a new Council chair and Lord Mayor. 

We were aware that under the D'Hondt system, the top post would be filled by a member of Sinn Féin. 

Councillor Stephen McCann from Trillick has been chosen to be Council Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council for the next year. 

He's replacing SDLP's Councillor Mary Garrity. 

After last night's meeting, the new council chair Stephen McCann said he was "honoured to be nominated": 

Meanwhile, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh from Castlederg was appointed as the new Lord Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council. 

(Councillor Maolíosa McHugh pictured with members of the McHugh family) 

New Mayor Maolíosa McHugh is not only the first Mayor in the district to be from Tyrone, but the first male mayor. 

Following the appointment, the council took to social media to share some of Mayor McHugh's initiatives:

New Mayor of DCSDC, Cllr Maoliosa McHugh, pledges to support all communities promoting ‘respect, inclusive politics and equality’ pic.twitter.com/ZO3oVItjVM

— Derry Strabane Cncl (@dcsdcouncil) 5 June 2017

 Aware NI has also been selected as the new Mayor's annual chosen charity: 

@AwareNI selected by the new DCSDC Mayor Maolíosa McHugh as the Mayor's annual chosen charity for their vital community support role

— Derry Strabane Cncl (@dcsdcouncil) 5 June 2017