‘Trying times ahead’ says new Derry and Strabane Mayor Brian Tierney

The SDLP’s Brian Tierney was tonight elected Mayor at the Council’s first-ever ‘virtual’ AGM and will be supported in his role by the DUP’s Alderman Graham Warke who takes up the position of Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Tierney has vowed to represent everyone across the Council area and insists that campaigning for increased investment for the NW will be his key priority for the year ahead.

Acknowledging the difficulties faced and sacrifices made as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, Mayor Tierney said he hoped his year could be remembered as the time “when people can be brought back together and when communities across the city and district will reunite once again”.

The father-of-four said that, when it came to investment in his home city, he wanted to preside over “a turning of the tide - not another false dawn”.

“I will work day and night to ensure that people in the NW are not let down again. There have been some signs of progress - but we have a long way to go... I intend to knock on every door that I can in Belfast, Dublin or London to make sure that we have a strong case put forward for investment in Derry and Strabane. I will travel wherever I have to to ensure that people across the world know that Derry and Strabane is open for business.”

Announcing details of his official Mayoral charity, Mayor Tierney said Aurora Counselling Services, which works to provide support for those with mental health issues, was a very worthy cause that he was keen to support and promote during his mayoral year.

“Tackling the mental health crisis in this city and district must remain a major focus of all we do,” he said. “That work has become all the more crucial with the stress and strain of the last number of months .”