Maolíosa McHugh

Maolíosa McHugh MLA (Irish: [mˠiːlˠ.ˈiː.sˠə], /miːˈliːsə məˈkju/) is a Sinn Féin politician from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland who has served as Member of the Legislative Assembly for the West Tyrone constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly since 28 May 2019. Previously, he was a local councillor and Mayor of Derry and Strabane.[1][2]

Maolíosa McHugh

BA (Hons) MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for West Tyrone
Assumed office
28 May 2019
Preceded byMichaela Boyle
Member of Derry City and Strabane District Council
for Derg
In office
22 May 2014 – 2 May 2019
Member of Strabane District Council
for Derg
In office
5 May 2011 – 22 May 2014
Personal details
BornMournebeg, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partySinn Féin
Spouse(s)Geraldine McHugh
Children5
Alma materKingston Polytechnic, NUI Galway
OccupationLecturer

Early life

McHugh was born in Mournebeg, a rural area west of Castlederg, County Tyrone. He worked as a lecturer in the North West Regional College (previously the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education) for almost 33 years.[3]

History

McHugh first elected to Strabane District Council in 2011;[4] he continued as member of Derry City and Strabane District Council when they were merged, and he served as Mayor of Derry and Strabane in 2017–18. During his term, he was criticised for refusing to meet Prince Charles or send a council representative to a Buckingham Palace garden party.[5][6] He lost his seat in the 2019 local election.

McHugh was coopted onto the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2019.[7] However, he has yet to actually take his seat, as the Assembly is collapsed. Órfhlaith Begley MP described McHugh as "A true republican with a wealth of knowledge and experience."[8]

References
  1. "'We're stronger together' says new 'Mayor for all' Maolíosa McHugh". www.derryjournal.com.
  2. "St Patrick's Day parades: round-up from around the country". The Irish Times.
  3. "Speakers – Belfast Homecoming".
  4. "Strabane Council Elections 1997–2011". www.ark.ac.uk.
  5. Derry, Freya McClements. "Prince Charles meets flooding victims in Derry". The Irish Times.
  6. ""This isn't an issue about the mayor, the mayor was using his democratic right to use that casting vote…"". 9 January 2018.
  7. "Sinn Fein select unseated councillor McHugh to replace MLA" – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  8. Hughes, Brendan (10 May 2019). "Sinn Fein's Maolíosa McHugh replaces Michaela Boyle as West Tyrone MLA". The Irish News.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Hilary McClintock		 Mayor of Derry and Strabane
5 June 2017 – 4 June 2018		 Succeeded by
John Boyle
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by
Michaela Boyle		 MLA for West Tyrone
28 May 2019–present		 Incumbent
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