New DUP councillor Amanda Lynch has said she is proud to follow in the footsteps of her father Willie Hay, the ex-Mayor and Speaker of the Stormont Assembly.

Alderman Lynch has now taken her seat as DUP representative for the Faughan District Electoral Area (DEA).

She was co-opted last month for Julie Middleton, who recently replaced Gary Middleton as Foyle MLA at Stormont.

Following her selection Alderman Lynch has spoken of a long political lineage stretching back over 50 years.

placeholder image — DUP Alderman Amanda Lynch

Her grandmother Anna Hay became the first elected member of the DUP in Derry when she ran for council as a United Loyalist candidate in 1973.

Her father was the first DUP Mayor of Derry in 1992-93, served as MLA from 1998 to 2014, was Stormont Speaker from 2007 to 2014, and was elevated to the British House of Lords as Lord Hay of Ballyore in 2014.

"My name is Amanda Lynch and I am the proud granddaughter of Anna Hay, and the daughter of Lord William Hay. My family heritage has been steeped in public service and I am glad to be able to follow in the footsteps of both my granny and dad,” she stated.

The new DUP representative said she was looking forward to meeting constituents.

DUP Alderman Amanda Lynch (centre) with MLA Julie Middleton and Alderman Chelsea Cooke at the Guildhall.

“I am acutely aware of the issues that come with daily life being a mummy and a wife. I am also aware of the issues in the Faughan having grown up in Newbuildings and I very much look forward to helping you through life's daily challenges,” she said.