Ex-Derry Mayor Brian Tierney has said it’s been a ‘huge honour’ to represent the people of Derry for the last 13 years while Colum Eastwood paid tribute to the outgoing councillor, whom he described as his ‘right hand’.

The 43-year-old SDLP Group Leader on the council announced on Wednesday that he will not be standing in forthcoming local government elections in 2027.

Colr. Tierney said it had been a ‘huge honour to represent the people of Derry’ but that, due to personal and professional commitments, he will stand down as a councillor early next year.

“There’s no greater honour than serving the community you live in and the people you live alongside as a political representative. It has been my personal and professional privilege to represent the people of Ballyarnett as a councillor for almost 14 years and to have had the enormous opportunity to be Derry’s Mayor. There really is no better job.

placeholder image — Brian Tierney during his mayoral year.

“But being a full time public representative is also a tough balancing act. I have been reflecting over the last number of months and, for a variety of reasons, I’ve decided that this is the right time for me to stand aside. I therefore will not be contesting the next election and plan to stand down from the council early next year,” he said.

Mr. Eastwood said: “For as long as I’ve been in politics, Brian Tierney has been my right hand. Throughout that time, he has been incredibly loyal, always going above and beyond. Nothing has ever been too much for him. He will be a huge loss to politics right across Derry and, in particular, to his constituents in Ballyarnett, who he has proudly represented with distinction.”

Colr. Tierney was first co-opted onto the old Derry City Council to replace Shaun Gallagher in January 2014.

He was successfully returned as a councillor for the Ballyarnett District Electoral Area (DEA) at elections to Derry City & Strabane District Council in 2014, 2019 and 2023.

Brian Tierney with Colum Eastwood after they case their votes in the 2024 General Election. Photo: George Sweeney.

In 2022 he was in the mix for a seat until the latter stages of the Foyle Assembly election count when the transfers following his elimination ultimately helped return the current SDLP Sinéad McLaughlin, whom he had outpolled on first preferences.

Originally from the Bogside area of the city, Colr. Tierney followed his uncle John into front-line politics. The former MLA and long-standing John Hume confidant stepped down from the old Derry City Council shortly before his nephew’s co-option onto the local authority in early 2014.

Brian had the honour of serving as Mayor of Derry and Strabane in 2020-21, 26 years after John’s year as first citizen.

During his years of public service Colr. Tierney has been involved in several local community organisations, including the Outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Board, the Outer North Community Safety Team, the On Streets Community initiative, Galliagh Residents Group, Carnhill Resource Centre Management Committee and the Bloody Sunday Trust.

He has also been a member of the Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and has also Chaired the Council-led Bonfire working group.

In early 2025 he stepped down as an SDLP councillor for a time days after apologising for providing a reference to a former Irish soldier from Derry who was later convicted of rape.

Colr. Tierney acknowledged he had made a ‘huge, huge mistake’.

Following an internal SDLP review and the implementation of party character reference and social media directives, the whip was restored in April 2025 and Colr. Tierney resumed his role as a representative for Ballyarnett.

Colr. Tierney said that when he first put his name forward to be a councillor in 2013 he had been motivated by a desire to improve the lives of his neighbours and deliver for his community and the city he loves.

"After almost 14 years, I am very proud of everything I’ve been able to achieve with my colleagues in the SDLP, representatives from other parties and community activists from across the city.

"I am grateful to everyone who has supported me over that time and I am beyond grateful to my wife Cheryl, our children and my whole family. They have put up with summer nights spent knocking doors, lost weekends helping people with their problems and all the challenges that the family of politicians have to put up with.

"I couldn’t have done this job without them. And most of all, I’m grateful to the people of the Ballyarnett DEA and across Derry who put their trust in me to represent them,” he declared.

Mr. Eastwood said: “During his time as a councillor, Brian has carried on the proud Tierney family tradition of being an accessible public representative who can be counted on in good times and bad. He has been tirelessly on the ground, supporting local communities and working to make this city a better place for us all to live.”

The SDLP leader said Colr. Tierney will be badly missed on DC&SDC and by the wider SDLP team but added that ‘Brian still has an important role to play in the coming years’.

"I am glad that he will now have the opportunity to spend more time with his beloved wife Cheryl and his family. He will continue to be an important voice locally and a source of trusted advice to me and the SDLP,” said Mr. Eastwood.

Colr. Tierney will continue to serve as representative for the Ballyarnett DEA until next year when he will step down in advance of council elections that are scheduled to take place in May.