REMARKS BY COUNCILLOR Ruairí McHugh
MAYOR OF DERRY & STRABANE DISTRICT COUNCIL
02 June 2025
Is mór an onóir domhsa an cúram mór le rá seo a glacadh go bródúil don bhliain atá le teacht. Agus ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a gabháil le gach duine as teacht anseo anocht ar ócáid ollmhór mar seo.
I feel very proud and humbled to be given the opportunity to take up the Mayoral position for the next 12 months. Being someone who tends to shun the limelight I must be honest and say that I am going to be out of my comfort zone but as a wise person once told me, 'sure you have to challenge yourself at times don’t you?' so here I am.
Councillors here tonight will know I'm not a man known for his long-winded speeches, I like to get to the point and say what has to be said. My philosophy is 'quality over quantity' However, I'm sorry to disappoint you all but on this occasion, I might have to make an exception.
Firstly, I want to thank my party colleagues on team Sinn Féin here in the chamber who have placed their trust and confidence in me and in particular my proposer Cllr. Chris Jackson. I've no doubt I can rely on all your support over the next year. Also, to my local Harvey, Mc Glynn, Connolly, McHugh SF Cumann, many of whom I'm delighted to have here tonight, their hard work and dedication has ensured the Derg Ward has had a SF representative since 1985, including myself since 2008. I want to particularly acknowledge Maolíosa McHugh MLA who has been a great mentor to me down through the years.
Like all occasions in one's life there are those people we would like to be here to share the joyous occasion but unfortunately they have sadly passed on, so I'm very mindful of the absence of my party comrades who have passed since I was elected, Big Patsy, Paddy D and my late Uncle Hilary, I extend a special welcome to their family members present here this evening.
I am of course a Castlederg man and I am very proud to represent the People of the Derg who have returned me at every election I've contested. This is as much their year in office as it is mine, thank-you for your steadfast support.
To my own family, to my friends and supporters, I'm delighted to have you here to share this occasion with me, the saying goes ‘friends are the family you can choose’ and I think I’ve chosen well.
My Mum and my two sisters, you’ve always been my greatest supporters in everything I do, and your love and care has been instrumental in making me who I am today. Thanks.
I have been a Councillor now since November 2008, having been initially co-opted to fill the vacant seat after my late father Charlie, passed away a month earlier. He was the first Sinn Féin Councillor elected to the old Strabane Council in 1985 along with the late great Cllrs Ivan Barr and Tommy Mc Namee, who were the pioneers for SF at that time. So, it's thanks to my Dad for instilling in me a desire to become involved in Politics and in with Sinn Féin in particular. I got that from him because even as a young boy I was never far from his side during every single election campaign, rally or demonstration.
I have always been immensely proud of him and his courage, so I hope that he is by my side and is also as proud of me, as I am of him, as I take on this position of Mayor.
I do so at what is an exciting time for this council and district.
As a local authority, we have a huge capital spending plan in place, including state of the art sports and leisure facilities for Strabane and Templemore which have been long awaited as well as the continued regeneration of my own home town, Castlederg, among many more projects throughout our District and City.
I very much look forward to taking that work forward along with the massive opportunities that now exist through the City and Growth Deal funding which represents a historic investment in the north west.
This investment has the potential to be game-changing for the entire region and can be transformative in terms of regeneration, creating good jobs and unleashing our full economic potential.
Of course we have our challenges also. All local authorities and public services continue to feel the impact of sustained cuts from the British Government.
We must continue to navigate our way through that in partnership with our colleagues in the Assembly and the Executive, indeed the recent initiative by Economy Ministers Conor Murphy and Caoimhe Archibald to take responsibility for City of Derry Airport, shows what can be achieved when the political will is there.
Neither are we divorced from wider global events and I want to take a moment to reflect on the horrors that continue to play out in Palestine.
I am proud that this council has repeatedly stood on this side of peace and justice in Palestine. We must continue to do so.
There is a duty on political leaders to speak out against injustice and what we are witnessing in Palestine is a genocide.
It cannot be allowed to continue. It must stop. There must be a ceasefire now and an end to the unjustifiable slaughter of a defenceless civilian population.
Finally, I am a very proud Irish Republican, and I believe passionately in the Reunification of my Country.
However, I recognise that many of our citizens have different aspirations. Unionists are every bit as passionate about their Britishness as I am about my Irishness and we all have the right to have our aspirations respected.
I believe in the concept of an inclusive mayor and that showing positive political leadership, building reconciliation, respect and prosperity in this society is a collective responsibility.
In my time as a Councillor, I recognise first-hand, that there is far more that unites us around the bread and butter issues. We all work together here in this chamber and on outside bodies striving to ensure that our citizens get first class, fit for purpose Council services and a fair and equitable distribution of Council resources and investment in infrastructure and Capital projects. It is in that same spirit of co-operation and a desire to work together for the benefit of all, that I intend to conduct myself in my role as a progressive, forward thinking, grass roots, Mayor for all of our people.
Finally, each Mayor nominates Charities to fundraise for throughout their year in office. There's probably no-one present here or throughout this District who hasn't been affected by suicide in some way or had a very sick family member or friend receive medical care at home due to a life limiting illness. Because of that, I'm very pleased to nominate, PIPS Suicide Prevention Derry and The Castlederg Patient and Comfort Terminally ill fund as my chosen charities for the next year. They both carry out invaluable work across this Council area and I look forward to working with them both to raise as much money as possible.
Go raibh mile, mile, maith agaibh go leir.