The new Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Chair has said the “well-being” of the people of the district will be his key focus during his year in the role.

Sinn Féin Councillor, Barry McElduff, was to be officially ratified to the role at the Council AGM last night (Wednesday) evening at the Town Hall, replacing DUP Councillor Errol Thompson.

In his speech on Wednesday after taking up the role as Chair, Councillor McElduff said it was a great honour and privilege to take on the role, and he thanked those who elected him in 2019 to the Councl.

He also paid tribute to former Sinn Féin Councillor Sean Donnelly, who passed away last December.

‘Key focus’

Looking forward to the year ahead, Councillor McElduff said: “My key focus and theme as Cathaoirleach [Chairman] of the Council is encapsulated in one word: well-being.

“The well-being of all our people is paramount. And politics, for me, is all about people.

“This means celebrating our people’s high points, excellence and achievements. This applies to our personal health and well-being and to the overall services provided by government.

“The pressures of waiting lists, protecting our services, the issues of mental health provision and access to GP services are hugely challenging, and we need to lobby hard and smart for better services locally.

“It also applies to how we look after ourselves, how we mind and support each other as well as the role of the Council in providing cultural offerings and sport and leisure for our people.”

Councillor McElduff said the Council needs to stand up for the rural community west of the Bann in such matters as the economy and the environment.

“The average wage in our Council area is below the regional average. We need to narrow this wage gap by attracting and creating well-paid, fulfilling jobs locally.

“We need urgent, meaningful investment in the Fermanagh and Omagh [District Council] area.

“Improving educational attainment levels also needs to feature large on our agenda.

“The cost of living, including rising fuel, energy and food prices, is very worrying for everyone and we need to do everything in our power to help people.

“We will lobby for the urgent re-establishment of the Assembly and Executive so that the worst impacts of this crisis can be mitigated, and we will do our bit as a Council, where and when we can.”

Build relationships

The Omagh Councillor said he was also looking forward to building on his relationships with people from all communities, and becoming more familiar “with the proud people of Fermanagh and all that this historic county has to offer”.

“This exciting opportunity comes with the role of Chairperson. Now, let us go forward with a positive, creative agenda. Let us champion our communities.”

Councillor McElduff had been an MP for West Tyrone, but resigned from the position in 2018 in controversy after he posed with a loaf of Kingsmill on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre in 1976, in which 10 Protestant workers were shot dead by Republicans.

But after resigning from his seat and being suspended from Sinn Féin for three months, Councillor McElduff made a return to frontline politics and was elected after the fourth stage in the Omagh Ward.

Councillor McElduff received the second-highest number of first-preference votes in Omagh with 900, with outgoing Chair, Councillor Thompson, the only person with more (970).

The UUP's Councillor for West Tyrone, Allan Rainey, was appointed Vice Chair.