Britain’s Charles III New Year list recognises Niree McMorris, Paul Bartholomew, Helen Mark and Jonny McNee

The DUP councillor for the Waterside was recognised for services to the community in Derry.

Outside of politics she has a long-standing record as a community worker.

She has served, for example, as chair of the Irish Street Youth and Community Centre, Waterside Shared Village and Lisnagelvin Women’s Group.

Professor Paul Bartholomew, Ulster University Vice Chancellor, has been made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

Prof. Bartholomew received the award in recognition for services to Higher Education and Public Service.

In recent years the senior UU administrator has been working with the Magee Taskforce to increase the university’s Derry campus footprint to 10,000 students.

Tara Moore, a Professor of Personalised Medicine, based at UU’s, Coleraine campus, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to research, innovation and education.

Prof. Moore’s research specialises on genetic eye disease. She holds a chair at UU and is Chief R&D Officer for Avellino Labs in Menlo Park in San Francisco in the United States.

The BBC radio broadcaster Helen Elise Mark has been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to broadcasting.

Mrs. Mark is originally from Kelso in the Scottish Borders but moved to Ireland in the 1980s and began her career at Radio Foyle at which station she anchored Foyle Today for five years. She has worked across the BBC including as a report for Countryfile on BBC1.

She lives with her family on a farm in Myroe in North County Derry close to Lough Foyle and is also one of fourteen Deputy Lieutenants for the county.

Coleraine pensioner Margaret Peacock has been made MBE for services to the community in the town. Miss Peacock has spent the past four decades serving up community Christmas dinners in Coleraine.

Jonathan McNee, Senior Marine Officer, at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, has been made a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for voluntary service to military aviation archaeology.

In 2011 Jonny famously helped excavate a RAF MK II Spitfire from bogland at Moneydarragh in Inishowen 70 years after it crashed on its way to Eglinton airfield.

Three years ago he identified the 1958 crash site of a rare Royal Navy helicopter on the banks of the Foyle.

New Year Honours have been awarded by British monarchs to nominated persons from Ireland, Britain and the former British empire deemed to have realised ‘outstanding achievement or service to the community’ under a convention established by George V of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in 1917.

The 2026 list was officially released by the British Government and The Executive Office on Monday evening.

The local recipients of the CBE, OBE, MBEs and BEMS will formally receive their medals at investiture ceremonies during 2026.