By Ryan Sands
“HISTORY has been made.”
Those were the words of new council chairperson Glyn Hanna on becoming the first unionist to take up the role since the formation of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council 11 years ago.
Since 2015, the post has been occupied on six occasions by Sinn Féin and on five by the SDLP.
Speaking after being elected chairperson at the local authority’s Monday AGM, the Mournes DUP representative said that it was “an honour to take up this role today and wear this chain of office”, adding that he was “proud and humbled to be the first ever unionist chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council since its creation”.
“Today marks the official recognition that unionist representatives are positioned to hold the role of council chairperson,” he stated.
“I eagerly look forward to leading the council this incoming year and intend for it to be a new era where unionists are visible and respected, and everyone gets equal opportunities and recognition.”
Newry SDLP councillor Doire Finn took up the deputy chairperson post.
Outgoing council chair Philip Campbell described his time in the role as the “experience of a lifetime”.
Read the full story in the current issue of the Mourne Observer.
