February turned out to be a month when history was made as Sinn Féin leader in the north Michelle O’Neill became the first ever nationalist or Republican First Minister of Northern Ireland as the NI Assembly got back up and running.

Meanwhile Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald led the many tributes to long-standing Derry Councillor Tony Hassan, who had passed away.

Mr Hassan was described as a ‘much-loved and selfless’ activist by Mary Lou McDonald who has said his memory will live on in ‘Hassan’s Highway’, as the Skeoge link has been dubbed.

While the rates were struck after much debate in the Guildhall, infrastructure announcements came thick and fast in February, as it was confirmed that the Derry North Atlantic maritime museum at Ebrington would proceed, and would open in 2026, while it also emerged that the parklet in Waterloo Place was to be dismantled.

The new foot bridge over the Penny Burn.

placeholder image — The new foot bridge over the Penny Burn.

Economy Minister Conor Murphy announced funding to protect the City of Derry Airport to London Heathrow route, while Derry’s new £2 million foot and cycle bridge was finally lifted into place across the Penny Burn.

The health crisis was also making headlines this month with figures from the Department of Health showing the Western Trust was experiencing significant demand for occupational therapy assessments.

The Department of Health released the figures to SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, who said long waits were ‘stripping people of dignity’.

In Donegal meanwhile the fight for 100 Redress in the defective blocks nightmare continued as the call went out to homeowners to attend a major meeting in An Grianan Hotel, Burt, to have their say on what 100% Redress looks like.