Mayor Brian Tierney tells Stormont committee 3,000 Donegal villagers see themselves as Derry citizens as he explains Brexit intricacies

The mayor pointed out that while the Derry and Strabane district has a population of roughly 150,000, the north west region is home to around 350,000.

Many of these people cross the border on a daily basis to work, learn, shop and access health services, the mayor explained while briefing the Stormont Executive Office Committee on Derry’s unique exposure to Brexit.

“The Derry City and Strabane District Council population poses the highest percentage of Republic of Ireland-born residents living in Northern Ireland, amounting to just under 7,000 people, which is about five per cent of our population.

“Correspondingly, half of those who were born in Northern Ireland and are resident in the Republic of Ireland live in Donegal, which amounts to about 13,000 or eight per cent of the population of Donegal.

“Such connections are even more prevalent in the Donegal border settlements located about five kilometres outside of Derry, such as Killea, Bridgend, Muff and Burnfoot.

“Half of their present population were born in Derry, amounting to around 3,000 individuals who have strong family and other links to their birthplace.

“While lower house prices initially attracted those Derry City and Strabane District Council residents to move to Donegal, their relocation was further accelerated by the absence of any significant administrative barriers to living in Donegal and having the ability to commute quickly and unfettered to our council area to access employment,” the mayor said, underlining the deep connections across the border.

Colr. Tierney pointed out that many of the people living in the villages immediately to the north and south of Derry, still regard themselves as Derry folk.

“I know people…who live in Killea, Bridgend and Muff, and those peopled do not say that they are from Killea, Bridgend and Muff; they are from Derry.

“For an awful lot of them, it is a mindset that never changes. Those villages are literally five minutes away from our main city centre, and people genuinely believe that they are Derry people, and they genuinely are.”

He informed the committee how people living in Killea have as easy access to Derry city centre as people who reside in some of the city’s northern suburbs: “I have already pointed out the reasons….why those people moved to those areas: cheaper house prices, unfettered access and straight back into Derry and the Letterkenny Road.

“You are probably in the city centre more quickly than from where I am in Galliagh. You will know that that is not an exaggeration.”

The mayor said it is crucial that the emerging dispensation that follows the end of the Brexit transition period takes account of the cross-border society and economy that exists in Derry and Donegal and that steps are taken to ensure sustainable growth.