Assisting him as Vice-Chair is Cllr Wesley Brown (DUP, Magherafelt DEA) with the appointments based on a formula that sees chairmanships and vice-chairmanships allocated for a year on a rota basis. Nominating the new Council Chair was SF Cookstown representative, Cllr Cathal Mallaghan, who said: “This gentleman has only been here for a year, but that doesn’t say anything about the experience he has, having been a civil servant for three decades. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
“He has been in the boardroom for many years as well, having spent many years on the Tyrone (GAA) County Board, so I have every confidence and take great pleasure in nominating Eugene McConnell for Chair of Council.” Addressing the chamber in Irish, having been formally presented with the ceremonial chain of office by Cllr Dominic Molloy, who is the outgoing Council Chairman, Councillor McConnell said: “ First of all, g o raibh míle maith agaibh agus tá fáilte romhaibh anseo tráthnóna inniu (thank you very much and you are all welcome here this afternoon). “I first of all wish to sincerely thank my party colleagues for entrusting with me the nomination to the position of Cathaoirleach (Chairman) in the year ahead.
“It’s a massive honour and it’s a moment of pride for both myself and my family that I have been given the opportunity to step into this .