Collette McAllister has been unanimously endorsed by local Sinn Féin members in Strabane as Paul Boggs’ replacement on Derry City & Strabane District Council.

The Glens of Antrim native will fill the Sperrin DEA seat vacated by Mr. Boggs when he was co-opted to replace Maolíosa Mc Hugh as MLA upon his retirement earlier this month.

Ms. McAllister has lived in Strabane since 2022 with her partner Caolán (Doherty) and their two young children Dómhnall and Róisín.

Speaking about her selection she said: “I am humbled and deeply honoured to receive the endorsement of our local party members to take on the role of Councillor to represent and serve the people of the Sperrin DEA.

placeholder image — Collette McAllister with Paul Boggs.

“I want to pay tribute to Paul Boggs for the energy and commitment he brought to his role as a Councillor.

"I look forward to now working with him as part of our council, MLA and MP party team and to continue to serve our community, delivery on everyday bread and butter issues, as well as strategic projects of importance for the people of this area.

The Antrim woman has been a Sinn Féin activist since the age of 15 and is the current Secretary of Strabane Sinn Comhairle Ceantair.

She worked in the European Parliament with Martina Anderson MEP from 2018-2019 and subsequently with the party’s policy development unit at the Assembly, where she has had a particular focus on the area of housing policy.

She has a degree in Law with Politics and a Master's Degree in Gender, Conflict and Human Rights Law. She served on Queen’s University and Ulster University Student Councils and the National Union of Students-Union of Students Ireland. She was also a member of the Washington Ireland Program, volunteering in Capitol Hill alongside N-Street Village Women’s Homeless Shelter.

Collette is also a Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteer with the Western Trust and serves on the local Gaelscoil Board of Governors as the Parents’ Representative.

“My previous experience will be a great help as I take on this role. I look forward to getting stuck in and working to the best of my ability to make a positive difference, whether that be on each individual constituency issue, on wider social, economic and cultural issues and being part of the building momentum towards Irish Unity,” she said.