Former Mayor of Derry & Strabane Michaela Boyle raises almost £14,000 for local charities

The Sinn Féin Councillor, who handed the Mayoral chain over to SDLP Councillor Brian Tierney at the start of June, chose the Koram Centre and Foyle Women’s Aid as her Mayoral charities for her year as First Citizen.

The Koram Centre offers a professional counselling, psychotherapy and psychosocial support service in Strabane and the surrounding areas.

Foyle Women’s Aid is a charity based in Derry which focuses on eliminating domestic abuse and sexual violence through raising awareness and offering preventive educational advice and support across the Derry, Strabane, Limavady and Dungiven areas.

Councillor Boyle said she was delighted with the sum raised for two worthy causes and thanked all who donated. “Being able to raise awareness and funds for much-valued organisations within our district is one of the most rewarding things about taking the office of Mayor, and words can’t express how pleased I am to be handing this cheque over to the Koram Centre and Foyle Women’s Aid – both of whom do exceptional work.

“I would like to thank each and every person who donated to both of my Mayor’s charities over the past year, I know that it will be put to good use.

“I’d like to extend my gratitude also to those who donated online during my final three months as Mayor as part of events like the Virtual Jazz Festival in May. The cancellation of events in line with Covid-19 guidelines during this time meant people didn’t have the usual opportunities to contribute in person, but thanks to the online system we made sure that neither the Koram Centre nor Foyle Women’s Aid missed out, and I am honoured to hand over this sum of almost £14,000.”

Adrian Loughrey, Koram Centre manager, thanked Councillor Boyle for her support over the past year. “On behalf of everyone at the Koram Centre I would like to extend my sincere and heartfelt thanks to Colr. Boyle for supporting us throughout her year as Mayor.

“This money will go directly into assisting our clients at a time when so many of them need us the most.

“The generosity of the people of the district, and of former Mayor Boyle, has been overwhelming, and is deeply appreciated by myself and the whole team.”

Marie Brown, Director of Foyle Women’s Aid, agreed that the donation would have a significant impact. “I have had many insightful and important conversations with Colr. Boyle about the issue of domestic violence and the actions we can take to make positive steps in combating it, and I’d like to thank her for being wholly supportive of ourselves from her first day in office.

“We are hugely thankful to former Mayor Boyle and to all of the people who donated throughout the past year, and I know that this significant donation will make a real difference for Foyle Women’s Aid moving forward.”

For more on the Koram Centre, visit www.koramcentre.com/, and for more on Foyle Women’s Aid, visit www.foylewomensaid.org/.