Councillor McElduff nominated as Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
3rd June 2025
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council held its Annual Meeting in The Grange, Omagh on Monday 02 June 2025 with Councillor Barry McElduff, Sinn Féin, nominated as Council Chair for 2025-2026. Councillor Shirley Hawkes, Democratic Unionist Party, was nominated as Vice Chair for the incoming year.
In accepting the position, Councillor McElduff said:
“I would like to thank the Sinn Féin Party for nominating me to the position of Council Chair for 2025-2026.
I would also like to thank my family Paula, Niamh, Bláthnaid and Patrick, and my siblings, for their support. It is very poignant that tonight is the 15th anniversary of my late father’s passing.
I held the position of Chair previously and learnt a lot from that experience, however, nothing stays the same and there are various new challenges and priorities.
The focus is about delivering services; empowering businesses and communities; wellbeing in our communities; providing lifelong opportunities for our people; addressing poverty; capital build projects; lobbying, listening, reacting, bring strategic and developing initiatives across a range of areas; and doing the best for our people.
There are also priorities in health, sport, culture, events, the arts, economic development and inward investment.
We are outward looking and it is important that we go forward together in a positive spirit as a Council.
I look forward to working with the incoming Vice Chair for the year ahead.
I would like to congratulate the outgoing Chair, Councillor John McClaughry, and Vice Chair, Councillor Elaine Brough, for their work over the last year. They showed great commitment and generosity of time.”
The Chair also announced that his chosen charity for the year will be Skyzdalimit, Omagh and Fermanagh Brightstarz. Both organisations aim to improve the lives of people with a learning or physical disabilities through arts and leisure activities.
Speaking about his chosen charities, Councillor McElduff said:
“I have chosen these charities as a tribute to the late Pearse McCloskey who was the Founder, Producer, Director and Choreographer with Skyzdalimit Omagh. Pearse was an exceptional mentor and inspirational figurehead who tirelessly championed social inclusion in the arts.”
In accepting the position of Vice Chair, Councillor Hawkes said:
“I would like to thank the Democratic Unionist Party for nominating me to the position of Vice Chair, particularly the Group Leader, Councillor Robinson, who has supported me since I was elected to the Council. I would also like to thank my daughter for her support and encouragement.
I pledge to work to the best of my ability for the benefit of residents and businesses in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area.
Finally, I would like to thank my two predecessors, Councillor McClaughry and Councillor Brough.”
The nomination of Committee Chairs for 2025-2026 also took place at the Annual Meeting with eh following Councillors being nominated:
- Environmental Services – Councillor Noeleen Hayes
- Regeneration and Community – Councillor Errol Thompson
- Policy and Resources – Councillor Thomas O’Reilly
- Planning – Councillor Glenn Campbell
Members agreed to continue with 17 Members Committees and a 13 Member Planning Committee. Details of the membership of each Committee are available on the Council website (www.fermanaghomagh.com).
All nominations to the Positions of Responsibility and Committees were based on d’Hondt and agreed at the Annual Meeting in June 2023.
The first Council meeting of the 2025-2026 term will take place on Tuesday 03 June 2025 in the Townhall, Enniskillen.