Councils across Northern Ireland have now announced their Mayors, Chairs and Deputies for 2025/26.
Sinn Féin continues to demonstrate its local government strength, securing four Mayoral or Chair positions across Northern Ireland’s councils, including Derry and Strabane, Causeway Coast and Glens, Newry Mourne and Down, and Fermanagh and Omagh District Councils. The DUP has also demonstrated its strong presence across the region with three Mayoral or Chair roles including the influential position of Belfast’s Lord Mayor, as well as three Deputy roles.
The Alliance Party continues to build on its positive electoral performances by taking the Ards and North Down Mayoral post, along with strong representation in four Deputy roles. The SDLP, while not holding any top positions this year, continues to maintain a foothold with two Deputy roles, including Deputy Mayor of Belfast City Council.
The UUP now hold two mayoralties on Antrim and Newtownabbey and Mid and East Antrim District Councils, a marked improvement from securing one top role last year.
The two largest Executive parties however have dominated local council selections, with Sinn Féin and the DUP sharing an impressive seven mayoralties or chairs between them.
Please see below a full list of the incoming First Citizens for the next 12 months:
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Mayor – Leah Kirkpatrick (UUP)
Deputy Mayor – Julie Gilmour (Alliance)
Ards and North Down Borough Council
Mayor – Gillian McCollum (Alliance)
Deputy Mayor – Vicky Moore (Alliance)
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Mayor – Stephen Moutray (DUP)
Deputy Mayor – Jessica Johnston (Alliance)
Belfast City Council
Mayor – Tracy Kelly (DUP)
Deputy Mayor – Paul Doherty (SDLP)
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Mayor – Oliver McMullan (Sinn Féin)
Deputy Mayor – Richard Stewart (Alliance)
Derry and Strabane District Council
Mayor – Ruairí McHugh (Sinn Féin)
Deputy Mayor – Niree McMorris (DUP)
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
Chair - Barry McElduff (Sinn Féin)
Vice-Chair - Shirley Hawkes (DUP)
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Mayor - Amanda Grehan (Alliance)
Deputy Mayor - Hazel Legge (UUP)
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
Mayor - Jackson Minford (UUP)
Deputy Mayor - Tyler Hoey (DUP)
Mid Ulster District Council
Chair - Frances Burton (DUP)
Deputy Chair - Denise Johnson (SDLP)
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Chair - Philip Campbell (Sinn Féin)
Deputy Chair - Geraldine Kearns (Sinn Féin)