‘We will see better times’

Mayor Michaela Boyle’s term in office comes to an end on Monday evening when the Council holds its first ever ‘virtual’ Annual General Meeting at which a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor will take over the reins for the coming year.

It has been an extremely busy twelve months for the Strabane native and one she has taken on with relish and enthusiasm, attending events right across the Council area and reaching out to all communities.

“It has been an amazing year,” she says. “I have really enjoyed representing the City and District as Mayor and being involved in so many events and initiatives - it has been incredible. It has been a huge honour to serve the people of Derry and Strabane over the past 12 months and I am humbled every day at the way the public have responded to me and welcomed me into their hearts with so much warmth and kindness.

“When I took up the post as Mayor a year ago, little did I know what lay in store. The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked us all to our core. It is the biggest public health crisis in generations and there isn’t a corner of the globe that it hasn’t impacted. The loss of life has been heartbreaking.

“These have been the most difficult of times and we have all made huge sacrifices and are yearning for a return to normality. I am convinced we can get there. I can say that with confidence. As Mayor of this wonderful city and district, I have seen at first hand the incredible spirit of community solidarity and determination that exists to confront this disease and do all we can to protect the most vulnerable.

“The work that is being done in the community and voluntary sector locally is incredible. The level of work being done across our communities day and night to ensure the vulnerable are cared for and community morale remains high is unprecedented.

“I see it in the selfless efforts of all the workers who continue to go to their jobs every day to ensure vital services continue to be provided and in the sacrifices made by families and citizens across this region to protect each other and win this fight.”

Mayor Boyle insists, however, that now is not the time to be complacent and the public must continue to adhere to the health and government advice and continue to protect and save lives.

Turning to the weeks and months ahead, Michaela Boyle says she is optimistic for the future and believes that, as we emerge from this emergency situation, the region’s joint commitment, community spirit and resilience will be vital in helping to repair, regenerate and rebuild the economy.

“Confirmation that the Graduate Medical School at Magee will have its first student intake next September is hugely positive news, particularly at a time when the focus is on the NHS and the need for healthcare workers,” she says.

“Having doctors trained and retained in the North West will be a game changer for the region and the medical school will also provide the impetus to drive the overall expansion of the university and bring with it the social and economic benefits.

“Recent confirmation of the £210m City Deal funding package was excellent news for us as it has the potential to transform this region and allow us to fully realise our economic potential and I am delighted to have been involved in these discussions and to be part of the great work being done to showcase everything that is positive about the region.”

Michaela Boyle, a “proudStrabane girl at heart”, believes her home town has greatly benefited from recent investment and has a bright future ahead thanks to ambitious plans by Council and other partners.

She says funding earmarked for Strabane’s town centre regeneration and the Canal Basin transformation project will radically change it and see the integration of a major health hub, leisure facilities and education facilities in the heart of the town. Meanwhile, work on the Riverine project with Lifford in Donegal is set to continue.

“Investment of this scale is unprecedented for the North West and I want to acknowledge the work that has been done to secure this money for our region and the level of commitment and determination that has been shown by our Council, our politicians and stakeholders to lobby for and secure funding,” she says. “The investment is a huge vote of confidence in the region and evidence that Stormont is finally serious in helping to redress past neglect.”

Mayor Boyle says work to progress the A5 dual carriageway project remains crucial and that lobbying for continued investment in our transport infrastructure is essential if the region is to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.

Looking back on her year as Mayor, Michaela Boyle says there were many highlights and good memories. “It has been a wonderful experience and I have loved meeting people, going out into the schools, having groups into the Guildhall and seeing at first hand the wonderful work that is being done across our communities. I have had the huge honour of meeting with Dana when she filmed in the Guildhall and I also met with Phil Coulter and Bronagh Gallagher, as well as some of the cast of ‘Derry Girls’. I particularly enjoyed the Mass at Celtic Park with Bishop McKeown that was attended by all the Confirmation children from across the Diocese and I was very honoured to host a reception for the Rev David Latimer and to meet with President Michael D Higgins.”

Mayor Boyle paid tribute to all the elected members, including her Deputy Mayor Cara Hunter, and all the Council staff, including the Chief Executive John Kelpie, for their continued help, advice and support during her Mayoral year.

“At the start of my year, I made a promise that I would be a Mayor for all, that I would interact and reach out to everyone. I did that and listened without judgement and respected other cultures and extended a sincere hand of friendship across the Council area. I hope I have made a difference by respecting each other’s differences. People are created equal but we are not all the same.”

She paid a special tribute to her family, particularly her husband, Paul, four daughters and three grandchildren,for sacrificing a lot of precious family time so that she could fulfil her Mayoral duties.

She also thanked the public for supporting her Mayoral charities – Foyle Women’s Aid and the Koram Centre.

Concluding, Mayor Boyle extended her best wishes to the incoming Mayor in what will be a challenging period for everyone.

She said: “I look forward to working with the new Mayor as we face this challenge together. I also look forward to harnessing the spirit of solidarity and unity that has served us so well over the past few months.

“By working together, I am confident that a better and stronger region emerges on the other side of these difficult times.”