Sinn Féin take chair at council's annual meeting

by Gráinne Connolly

Sinn Féin is expected to take the chair at this evening's Fermanagh and Omagh District Council annual meeting at the Grange, Omagh. 

There's no formal decision at the moment as to who will take Councillor Mary Garrity's place as Council Chair. 

However, under the D'Hondt system, the chairperson will be a member of Sinn Féin. 

At the moment, Councillor's Stephen McCann from Trillick or Barry McNally from Carrickmore have been tipped for the position. 

Councillor Stephen McCann                                      Councillor Barry McNally

The UUP has also chosen Fermanagh based Councillor Alex Baird, to be the next vice-chair. 

Councillors in Derry and Strabane will also hold their annual meeting this evening. 

Sinn Féin have the choice of chair for the coming year, but the party's councillors are also holding their counsel on whether they have decided on a candidate for Mayor or to discuss the issue. 

It's likely that the role of council chair will be filled by a member from the former Strabane district council area. 

Kieran McGuire, Brian McMahon, Dan Kelly and Ruairi McHugh are among those who have held the top post in recent years. 

Karina Carlin from Strabane and Maolíosa McHugh from Castlederg are seen as possible front runners. 

Councillor Karina Carlin                                             Councillor Maolíosa McHugh