Emmet Doyle replaces Anne McCloskey as Derry Aontú councillor

Dr. McCloskey, who represented the Ballyarnett District Electorial Area (DEA), recently stood down as a councillor citing differences between her views on COVID-19 and those of her party.

Mr. Doyle has confirmed he has been selected as Dr. McCloskey’s replacement.

“I’ve been co-opted into the Aontú seat on Derry City and Strabane District Council and I hope to get started next week,” he announced last week.

Seán Mac Cearáin, chair of Aontú’s Anne Devlin Cumann, said: “As successor to Dr. Anne Mc Closkey he has big shoes to fill. Emmet is a capable young man who brings a lot experience with him in both local and Stormont politics, where he spent some years working with Pat Ramsey of the SDLP.

"Everyone in Aontú is looking forward to working with Emmet in the future. We also wish good luck to Dr. Anne as she recharges the batteries after years of fighting for the benefit of the public and the rights of the unborn.”

Mr. Doyle, an author and former political adviser at Stormont, has twice sought election to DC&SDC in the past.

A one-time chair of the Tony Carlin Fianna Fáil Cumann in the city, Mr. Doyle first ran for election as an SDLP candidate in the first ever election to DC&SDC in 2014.

Running in the Moor DEA, which covers Creggan, the Bogside and Brandywell areas, he was competitive for the final seat polling 676 first preference votes but ultimately losing out to his then SDLP running mate Sean Carr after the distribution of transfers.

He was less successful with his run as an independent in the same DEA last year when he received 496 first preference votes and was eliminated after the third count.

He is the author of two books of local political history: ‘By Their Valour: A History of Women in Conflict (2017),’ co-authored with Joanne McQuaid, and ‘This House Will Divide (2018).’