Christmas & New Year Message from Mayor Ruairí McHugh
17 December 2025
As the calendar year draws to a close and our beautiful City and District are illuminated with festive lights, it is wonderful to pause and reflect on the incredibly busy and productive past six months.
My first half-year as Mayor has been a truly fantastic experience, and I am deeply honoured to serve this great City and District. The warm welcome I have received from every corner, from the rural areas like my home in Castlederg right across to the city, has been phenomenal. Everyone has been so friendly and kind. I love getting out and about, meeting new people every day, and having the chance to chat and share your stories. The support from Council staff and my dedicated support team has been exceptional, and I feel very well settled into the role.
The greatest joy of this role is witnessing the energy and dedication across our communities. My packed calendar of events means every day is different, and I particularly love going out to community groups, schools, youth clubs, sports clubs, and businesses across the City and District, and seeing the great work that is done at ground level.
I was especially delighted to host and attend our regular Tea Dances, ensuring our older community across the entire district can participate. I'm pleased these are held not only in the Guildhall but also in Strabane and Aghyaran, bringing music, entertainment, and connection to many.
The summer season was truly exceptional, highlighted by the tremendous success of Féile 2025. This year, the festival was back bigger than ever, delivering over 150 events across ten days and drawing an estimated attendance of over 20,000 people, firmly establishing it as the largest community and cultural festival in the North West’s summer calendar. It was a magnificent positive celebration of everything that is great about our communities and the people who live in them. The programme successfully showcased a breadth of talent, from local homegrown superstar SOAK and rising talent Piaras Ó Lorcáin, to one of Ireland’s best traditional musicians, Martin Hayes. Beyond the music and merriment, the debates and discussions tackled challenging, contemporary issues, including the situation in Gaza, anti-racism, and constitutional change, demonstrating the festival’s vital role in facilitating important societal conversations. It was an honour to witness the collaboration of the many groups, initiatives, volunteers, and residents who came together to shape this incredible programme for everyone to enjoy.
Beyond the cultural festivals, I must commend the huge success of our entire calendar of events, which once again brought joy, visitors, and economic activity to our City and District. Strabane Summer Jam proved an outstanding hit, drawing crowds to the town centre to enjoy music and family entertainment, while the Waterside Half Marathon celebrated a milestone, showcasing our stunning riverfront landscape and promoting health and fitness to thousands of runners. Our world-renowned Halloween Celebrations were spectacular, capturing imaginations across the city and providing a memorable experience for both residents and international visitors. Finally, the atmosphere at the Christmas Switch-On events was simply magical. We saw packed crowds not only in Derry City and Strabane but also in our rural towns, including a fantastic turnout in Castlederg, ensuring that the festive spirit and investment in entertainment were shared equally across all our communities, demonstrating the commitment of Council staff and the amazing spirit of our local people.
One of the most important roles as Mayor is welcoming people into the Chamber for civic receptions. It has been an honour to host many people of note to acknowledge their success and achievements, including: sporting heroes, teams and individuals who have brought great pride to the district, such as Sigersons GAC, Tyrone Masters, Ken Irwin, Danny Lyttle, Culmore GAA, Daryl Gurney, and Brendan Bradley. We have also held individual receptions in recognition of local community champions who have made a huge contribution to their local community, as well as vital charities and community organisations, including Carers NI and Altnagelvin Parents, who embody the spirit of selflessness.
From a corporate perspective, the role has given me the privilege to meet many dignitaries and guests visiting from across the globe. I had the pleasure of meeting a delegation of Mayors from France who were here to discuss local government and development opportunities, and I also met with EU ambassadors to talk about our strong business links and opportunities for collaboration.
A key highlight was a recent visit to Boston and Philadelphia as part of a cross-border delegation with Donegal County Council and other partners, as well as local businesses. This was a hugely interesting and engaging visit, giving us a great opportunity to not only network and engage with potential investors but also to showcase our own local business talent on an international stage.
I have also used my position as Mayor to actively lobby Central Government for vital progress on our region’s infrastructure, meeting with Ministers to campaign for the A5 road upgrade and campaigning for investment on rail connectivity.
The past six months have brought a lot of positive news in terms of regeneration and development. Significant progress has been made across our City Deal portfolio, with key projects transitioning from planning to active development.
Official work has begun on the highly anticipated DNA Museum at Ebrington Square, following the confirmation of the business case. This £14 million project will house immersive galleries, capturing the history of the North West, including the iconic La Trinidad Valencera Exhibition. The appointment of contractors marks the start of this significant project, which is due for completion by Spring 2027.
A major step forward for our region's healthcare was achieved with the appointment of the Integrated Consultant Team for two City Deal health projects. This includes the £4.6 million Medical Teaching Facility at Altnagelvin Hospital, which is strategically vital for attracting and retaining world-class medical talent, and the new Strabane Health and Care Centre, a key component of the wider Strabane Town Centre Regeneration Programme.
We are also seeing significant movement on local projects and I am particularly pleased about Phase 2 of the Derg Active project, which is very close to my own heart.
A major step forward for the Derg area has been the appointment of Milligan Bros Ltd as the main contractor to deliver Phase Two of the Castlederg Public Realm Scheme and the Castle Park Improvements. This phase is designed to build on the success of the first, with the upgrading of infrastructure at the Diamond, Castle Park, Mitchell Park and the Derg Valley Leisure Centre, focusing on footpaths, crossings, accessibility, street furniture, and park improvements and upgrades to the outer footpaths of the Diamond that will improve the overall look, feel, and accessibility of the town centre. It will include the creation of new pedestrian crossing points and improvement works to enhance connectivity and accessibility for all residents and visitors. This significant scheme demonstrates our commitment to investing in our rural towns.
Other important developments include the Daisyfield Sports Hub, the announcement regarding the Strabane Public Realm Scheme, and progress on the new Mullenan Cemetery. Progress is underway for the wider regeneration programme for the Strabane Leisure Centre, with a competitive tender process for site clearance works at Derry Road being initiated. This is the first stage for the site of the new state-of-the-art facility.
What I am most proud of is the work that has been done to raise money and awareness for my chosen charities: the PIPS Suicide Prevention Charity and the Castlederg Patient Comfort and Terminally Ill Fund.
I am incredibly proud of my recent Mayoral initiative which called on schools, community groups, and individuals to organise an event to raise money for the UNICEF Gaza Appeal for Children in Crisis. The response was phenomenal, with everyone really wanting to help. Money is still coming in, and I intend to host an event to acknowledge these fantastic efforts in the New Year.
I am committed to my ongoing Mayoral initiative to visit community groups in all DEAs (District Electoral Areas). To date, I have visited groups in Ballyarnett and Derg, and have visits scheduled in the remainder of the DEAs after Christmas, so keep an eye out for me!
I’ve also had the pleasure of attending several fantastic initiatives, such as the Unicef Child Friendly status recognition event at Foyle Arena, and pledged support for important campaigns, including Organ Donation Week, Good Relations Week, Irish Language Week, Ulster Scots Week, numerous recycling initiatives, and events that promote positive ageing.
The next six months promise to be just as busy and exciting. I am looking forward to the next stages of my term, which includes my Mayor’s Swim Challenge in May and a “Mayorox” event—two great opportunities to raise awareness and money for my charities. Details will be unveiled in the coming weeks, so watch this space!
As we prepare to greet 2026, I want to reiterate that it has been a wonderful experience and such a privilege to represent you all as Mayor over the past few months. I wish you and yours a Happy, Healthy, and Peaceful Christmas, and a New Year full of positivity and progress.
Councillor Ruairí McHugh Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council