Tyrone councillors selected as Chair and Vice Chair of FODC

EARLIER tonight at the council’s Annual General Meeting, Sinn Féin Omagh town councillor Barry McElduff was selected as Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, with Mid Tyrone DUP councillor Shirley Hawkes selected as Vice Chair.

Both councillors will hold their positions for one year between 2025 and 2026.

Cllr McElduff, who last held the position in 2022, used his acceptance speech to praise the work done by his predecessor in the role, UUP councillor John McClaughry, and the work done by former Vice Chair Elaine Brough, as well as thanking his Sinn Féin colleagues for nominating him for the position.

During his short speech the new chair also called on Israel to end their bombing and military campaign in Gaza, stating that he felt the need to speak out on the issue due to his ‘moral and political’ beliefs.

“I was one of six councillors elected to represent the Omagh town District Electoral Area in 2023, and I want to restate my gratitude to them for investing their confidence in me and the other five,” said Cllr McElduff.

“We are at the halfway stage of the current mandate, and I want to take this opportunity to thank my family and my siblings on this evening, which is the fifteenth anniversary of my father’s passing, which is particularly poignant for me and my family.”

He added, “I want to say something in relation to John and Elaine’s year that they can’t be faulted, and they both showed great commitment and generosity of time in their roles.”

Cllr McElduff also spoke about the challenges the council will face in the coming year, mentioning challenges with health and with the council’s budget.

He concluded, “I want to take this opportunity to say something significant, and I know we are not the United Nations, but I took advice from a pastoral friend earlier today, and my remarks are in line with the motions passed by this council to call on the IDF to stop what they’re doing in Gaza.

“It’s heart-breaking, and we can’t ignore what is taking place there. This is not self-defence by any measure, and I believe very strongly about this, but the Irish and British governments have been complacent, and this is from someone who was in the room when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, and that was a compromise where no one won.

“I ask for a real process to do the same in Gaza.”

Mr McElduff also announced that in tribute to the late Pearse McCloskey, who was one of the founders of the group Skyz Da Limit, he will once again be choosing the theatre group as his charity. Skyzdalimit is an inclusive performing arts and leisure charity for people with a learning disability or autism.

In a short speech the new Vice Chair, Shirley Hawkes, thanked her colleagues in the DUP as well as her daughter and promised to work to the ‘best of her ability’ for the people of the district.

Cllr Hawkes said, “I would like to thank the DUP for nominating me for this role and in particular Councillor Robinson, who has helped me tremendously since my election to the council. I would also like to thank my daughter, who is at university in Buckinghamshire. She told me she is quite proud of her mummy.

“Finally, all I can say is that I pledge to work to the best of my ability for the people of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and I would like to thank our predecessors, John and Elaine.”