The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council recently hosted a special reception in honour of local man Ciaran Gallagher who is a long-serving member of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Ciaran who works as an Emergency Medical Technician was hosted by Mayor Barr at the Guildhall to receive his Queen’s (Emergency Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal from Ian Crowe Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry The medal is presented to staff who have served 20 years on frontline duties within the Ambulance Service Colleagues who have worked alongside Ciaran requested that this special presentation take place due to Ciaran’s current ill health He was joined at the event by his long-term colleague Ian Duncan and both men were presented with the King’s Coronation Medal and commemorative coin.  Welcoming Ciaran and his family to the Guildhall Mayor Barr said: “I was honoured to host this reception for Ciaran in recognition of his dedication for more than two decades to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Thank you Ciaran for all you have done for the people of the Northwest over your tenure.” A spokesperson for the NIAS explained: “Ciaran joined NIAS in 2001 as a member of the Patient Care Service the Emergency Medical Technician course in 2003 who by that stage had already completed 20 years’ service “They remained crewed together until Ciaran’s own illness intervened they have touched the lives of thousands of people across the region They have been known for their willingness to go the extra mile and always brought empathy and respect to those patients whose care was entrusted to them.” They were joined at the presentation by colleagues and family said he was honoured to have attended the ceremony and thanked Ciaran and Ian for their commitment to the people of Derry and beyond also praised both men saying they always set an example to others in terms of dedication and care for patients Ciaran and Ian were each presented with the King’s Coronation Medal and commemorative coin In recognition of 40 years’ service to the NIAS Ian was also presented with a framed certificate and piece of crystal said: “I want to pass on my thanks to all those who played a part in organising this event Working for the ambulance service and with patients has been an absolute honour and I know that whilst I may no longer be able to do it the staff in Altnagelvin Station will continue to do so in the manner in which they have always done.  I want to say a special thanks to my mentor Enter your email address and get them direct to your inbox Derry Office 98 Strand Road Derry, BT48 7NN Tel: (028) 7125 3253 [email protected] Strabane Office 47 Derry Rd Strabane Tyrone © Copyright 2025 Derry Strabane District Council https://www.derrynow.com/section/1245/advertise-with-us All the latest breaking local news from Derry and County Derry Keep up to date with the latest sports news Read all the latest crime & court news in Derry and County 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content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism Lilian Seenoi-Barr pictured welcoming the new High Sheriff of The County Borough of Londonderry Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr held a reception in the Guildhall to mark the handover of the office of High Sheriff The Mayor welcomed the new High Sheriff of The County Borough of Londonderry Brian Dougherty to the Guildhall on Monday morning Also present was the outgoing High Sheriff Mayor Barr added: “It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the vital role of the High Sheriff in our city and district and to extend my best wishes to Brian as he takes on this prestigious role Robert Miller for his dedicated service during his tenure and I look forward to the positive impact Brian will undoubtedly make I wish him every success in his new role.” PICTURED ABOVE: The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr pictured welcoming the new High Sheriff of The County Borough of Londonderry Brian Dougherty to the Guildhall on Monday morning last Frances Doherty (Brian's mother) and Linda Curry (sister) " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news Derry BT redundancy payments capped at one year Derry - Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign The role offers an attractive package for the right candidate Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of 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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports The King is pleased to appoint Mr Ian Crowe MBE DL as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry to succeed Dr Angela Garvey who retired in March 2022 He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List for his committed service to the community of Northern Ireland having supported numerous organisations such as Air Ambulance NI(AANI) Past President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce City of Derry Rugby Club and others in a voluntary capacity over the last forty years Mr Crowe has lived and worked in Northern Ireland since the beginning of his career with his first leadership role as Captain of City of Derry Rugby 1st XV in 1978 a position he held for four years Ian also represented Ulster between 1978 to 1985 On retirement from playing he served the club he derived so much enjoyment from in multiple roles as a Coach All Ireland league Referee and current Trustee of one of the oldest Rugby Clubs in Ireland He has been leading CPC Office Supplies as Managing Director since 1984 and his success in business led to several non-executive roles in business and charity organisations He has dedicated himself to supporting organisations across Northern Ireland in sectors ranging from Sport Business and the Charity sector and cites the most notable achievement is being part of a team including Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) who successfully delivered a fully operational Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) providing a lifesaving service for Northern Ireland he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry and Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 2021 Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Hugo Duncan in his home studio in Strabane The singer and BBC broadcaster has been made been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours list for services to Entertainment and to the community in Northern Ireland The recipients of New Year Honours from Northern Ireland in full: Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Suzanne Breen's newsletter with expert analysis of what's important at Stormont Please check your inbox to verify your details https://www.donegallive.ie/section/1196/advertise-with-us All the latest breaking local news from Donegal Read the latest crime and court news from Donegal County Donegal - Donegal Live Donegal Now Donegal Democrat Donegal Post Donegal Peoples Press Finn Valley Inishowen Find whats happening in and around Donegal Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Donegal Gaeilge Irish Language Erse Gaelic Donegal Live Donegal Now Donegal Democrat Donegal Post Donegal Peoples Press Finn Valley Read about the latest properties available in Donegal Recent death notices and obituaries from Donegal Latest environmental and climate change news in County Donegal This year marks the 60th anniversary of the closure of the Derry-Portadown railway line - which erased the last bits of rail from Tyrone and Donegal Donegal County Council has agreed to help drive the idea of restoring rail between Letterkenny and Derry - a move welcomed by the Into The West campaigning group A motion to the council was proposed on Monday by Independent Councillor Declan Meehan Local rail campaigners Into The West met with Cllr Meehan earlier this month to discuss the case for restoring rail between Letterkenny and Derry and to understand how best to secure the active support of Donegal Council for reopening the route Cllr Meehan submitted a motion to Monday’s meeting of the full council The first was for Donegal Council to seek funding for a feasibility study into restoring the Letterkenny-Derry route – to coincide with a study that is already ongoing north of the border into reopening the Derry-Portadown line READ NEXT: N14 at Tullyrap to remain closed 'for the remainder of the week' after fatal crash The second ask was for a delegation from Donegal to meet the new Irish Government to lobby for rail reopening to be accelerated in the county “We’re very grateful to Clr Meehan for meeting us earlier this month and for his enthusiasm for bringing rail back to Letterkenny,” Chair of Into The West “The All-Island Rail Strategy has recommended that Letterkenny should have its rail restored and a unique window of opportunity exists right now to do so Firstly a dedicated €17bn infrastructure fund has been set up with the Apple Windfall Tax money and the projects it will be spent on are due to be decided in the coming months the Northern & Western Region of Ireland – which includes Donegal – has an under-performing economy which led the EU to officially downgrade its status in 2020 from a ‘developed’ region to one that is merely now ‘in transition’ “This introduces the possibility of EU funding for rail projects in Donegal – funding which will no longer be available once the region’s economy is eventually upgraded again So Cllr Meehan’s motion to Donegal County Council is extremely timely and we’re very grateful for his support in proposing it” Into the West is keen for that event to be marked in the coming months by a joint cross-border delegation to Dublin and Stormont from all four councils in the north-west of the island – Derry-Strabane The aim of the delegations will be to push for restoring the Derry-Portadown route to be made an agreed priority project within the All-Island Rail Strategy and for the reopening of Letterkenny-Derry to be expedited and delivered within the next decade “The All-Island Rail Strategy recommended reopening the Derry-Portadown line to provide a rail corridor between the north-west and Dublin but the route hasn’t been chosen as one of the strategy’s seven priority projects,” Mr Bradley added “It is essential that that decision is changed as otherwise it just won’t happen for decades Letterkenny is currently the third largest town in the Republic without rail It is essential that the unique window of opportunity presented by the Apple Windfall Tax and EU funding – as well as the recently announced €1bn for the Shared Island Fund – be used to ensure that Letterkenny gets its rail back before 2035 it won’t happen until the second half of this century “It’s fantastic that Donegal Council has agreed to be part of such a cross-border delegation and we’re very grateful to Cllr Meehan and all councillors in the county for their support for the proposal We hope that elected representatives in Derry-Strabane Fermanagh-Omagh and Mid-Ulster will now also give their support to what would be an extremely powerful cross-border delegation on rail – one which would be impossible for the governments in Dublin and Belfast to ignore” Into the West campaign from improvements to the single rail line from Derry~Londonderry to Belfast to campaigning for the return of rail to counties Donegal Omagh and Enniskillen that lost their rail lines in the 1950s and 1960s and restore rail as an option for journeys from Derry~Londonderry and Letterkenny to Dublin A day in the life of a children’s residential care worker at Ashdale Care Minster Alan Dillon at the opening of the new offices The opticians are delighted to welcome onboard their new Practice Manager PICTURED ABOVE: The Vice Lord Lieutenant Alan Moore presenting the King's Award for Voluntary Service to Laura Duddy and Benjamin Thompson The Foyle Down Syndrome Trust celebrated success at the Guildhall on Friday evening last receiving The King’s Award for Voluntary Service presented by the Vice Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry Lilian Seenoi-Barr hosting the event in the Great Hall millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering and each year outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) and this year the city and district has done very well picking up no less than seven awards with FDST receiving the fifth of this year’s presentations Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years One of the highlights of Friday’s award ceremony was the musical performance on stage of two young musicians from the Trust - Conor and Bernard who brought the house down with Conor’s rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ and Bernard’s ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ followed by both performing ‘Shoe The Donkey’ and ‘The Kerry Polka’ The duo was ably assisted by Josie Nugent from the FDST staff.  IN PICTURES: Foyle Down Syndrome Trust celebrate King’s Award for Voluntary Service Sandra Adair (KAVS) and the Lord Lieutenant who paid tribute to the Trust on achieving their award which he said was well deserved and wished all the very best for the future.  "It was indeed a great honour to present the King’s Award tonight to a very worthwhile group Christopher and his team do very deserving work and this award goes a long way to highlight the sterling achievements they continue set." The King’s Award is the equivalent of an MBE FDST said he was delighted that the Trust has been recognised for their work and dedication and that everyone was ‘over the moon’ when they heard the good news "It is testament to all at Foyle Down Syndrome Trust that we’ve been recognised volunteer Amy Carlin spoke of how she got involved with the Trust her ‘lovely’ experiences working with the young people and how FDST make a difference in the lives of everyone involved The Vice Lord Lieutenant presented the crystal to Laura Duddy and the certificate to Benjamin Thompson to loud applause from the main hall Home / Is Derry/Londonderry “invariably” the most deprived place in the UK CLAIM: According to indices of multiple deprivation Derry/Londonderry is invariably the most deprived place in the UK In an 18 August article for the Irish Times “Derry invariably tops the list when it comes to UK indices of social deprivation.” Wales and Northern Ireland each utilise their own indices of multiple deprivation Comparisons between these different sets of data very difficult academic research exists that allows the different datasets to be used in such a way that makes a degree of comparison possible Those methods have been applied to the most recent indices of multiple deprivation from England The findings from that effort include that Derry and Strabane District Council is the most deprived local authority area in the UK But when looking at parliamentary constituencies it is fair to say that Derry/Londonderry is one of the most socially deprived places in the UK and by some measures the most deprived the claim says Derry/Londonderry is “invariably” at the top – and that single word has a clear-cut meaning The available evidence indicates that Derry/Londonderry is not invariably at the top of the list for deprivation our rating here is inaccurate with consideration To get a proper understanding of what that finding means – and what its limitations are – it is worth exploring all this in more detail FactCheckNI contacted Mr Hegarty about this claim but there is no such thing as an index of “social deprivation” FactCheckNI has interpreted this to refer to Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMDs) Foreign equivalents for IMDs include Australia’s Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas and the Social Deprivation Index in the USA. The Pobal HP Deprivation Index is produced every five years in Ireland We have also interpreted “Derry” to refer broadly to the city based on the article in which the claim was made This makes comparisons between the situation in each country difficult – but more on that later The latest Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure (NIMDM), which was published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) in 2017 assesses deprivation across 890 distinct areas known as Super Output Areas (SOAs) designations that were created for the 2011 Census NI’s index uses data across seven distinct types of deprivation to produce an overall score that was used to rank each SOA’s level of deprivation the SOA ranked as the most deprived is the “East” SOA in Strabane Four of the ten most deprived SOAs in Northern Ireland are located in Derry/Londonderry This claim centres on comparisons between Derry/Londonderry and the rest of the UK There is no official, UK-wide index of multiple deprivation The latest English indices of deprivation were published in 2019 and are available here. The most recent Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) was published in 2020. Its core data is here (while a datamap of the information is available here) The most recent Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) was published in 2019 and is here. Direct comparisons of multiple deprivation between the four different countries (or between places that are contained within different countries) are difficult A major reason for this is the different methodologies used each country uses different sets of domains to calculate their overall levels of deprivation However, an alternative does exist. Researchers from the universities of Exeter, Cambridge and Bristol developed a unified measure that does allow for comparisons between places in different countries of the UK The method outlined in the research above provides a way to compare levels of multiple deprivation across the UK – but this comes with caveats, several of which are outlined in the introduction and summary of methods for the research which was published in the British Medical Journal: The methodology from that research has been used to create a Composite 2020 UK Index of Multiple Deprivation, published on mySociety. The composite index should be read with the caveats above in mind (and itself discusses these broad qualifications in some detail) due to changes in the way NI calculated its most recent index of multiple deprivation only one of the domains of deprivation (employment) is used directly to evaluate the relative deprivation of each area across the UK as a whole it remains the case that data from all the domains in all the IMDs finds its way into the rankings The results of the composite index indicate that NI has high levels of deprivation compared with the rest of the UK based on the overall rankings of the 42,619 SOAs (and equivalents) across all four constituent countries 49 of the 50 most deprived SOAs are in Northern Ireland including the entire top ten – and four of that top ten are located in the City of Derry/Londonderry is at the very top of indices of multiple deprivation depends on the level of aggregation used When looking at parliamentary constituencies Foyle (which contains Derry/Londonderry) is ranked second behind Belfast West The top ten most deprived parliamentary constituencies are: when ranking local authorities a different result is obtained There is no official UK index of multiple deprivation The best (and only) equivalent that FactCheckNI was able to locate is the composite index described above. If anyone knows of any other such measures, please get in touch. The core units of all the indices used by constituent countries of the UK – SOAs in Northern Ireland and their equivalents elsewhere – are much smaller than a city comprising a couple of thousand people at most Ranking deprivation by local authority area is one valid way for assessing where Derry/Londonderry sits – and Derry and Strabane District Council is indeed the most deprived council area in the UK Noting the fact that this level of aggregation combines the Maiden City with Strabane and that the East SOA in Strabane is ranked as the most deprived SOA in Northern Ireland’s own index of multiple deprivation this does provide evidence to support the claim Foyle is actually second in overall deprivation This means that whether Derry/Londonderry is the most deprived or one of the most deprived places comes down to interpretations It is not “invariably” at the top.For this reason – and notwithstanding the fact that whether it is the most deprived or merely the second most deprived place in the UK is perhaps not a distinction of huge material significance – the claim is inaccurate with consideration CLAIM: Northern Ireland has the highest rate of people claiming disability benefits and the highest prevalence of mental ill health in the UK Keep up with the latest from FactCheckNI with our email newsletter Official opening of the Active Travel Centre in Derry~Londonderry Sustrans Northern Ireland Director; John McLaughlin CEO Donegal County Council; Mayor of Derry Cllr Sandra Duffy; Translink CEO Chris Conway and SEUPB CEO Gina McIntyre People and organisations throughout the border region can now use this fantastic new Active Travel Centre at the North West Transport Hub The centre will support everyone in the region to walk helping to combat climate change and a growing health crisis The new facility has been set up in partnership with Life Cycles They're a zero-waste North West initiative to save bikes from landfill and get people cycling through lessons Cycling accessories and bike mechanic services will be available from The Bike General Little Acorns Bookstore will hand-pick a range of reading material related to walking Tourist information from Visit Derry will be available for those arriving at the award-winning new Transport Hub The centre will offer a range of activities and support from experienced Active Travel Officers This includes training for those wishing to learn to cycle safely and advice on local cycle routes All of the activities on offer aim to help people adopt a healthier option to the car encourages fellow citizens to get a burst of fresh air by walking or on an invigorating bike ride "I am delighted to attend the official opening of the new Active Travel Centre "It will be a big boost to people’s physical and mental health as well as benefit the environment and help the council tackle climate change at a local level "By taking small individual steps locally and literally we can all play our part in reducing emissions and engendering healthier habits for the good of the planet and ourselves." "We welcome the opening of this new Active Travel Centre at the North West Transport Hub helping people make more sustainable transport choices "Using public transport and other active travel modes like walking and cycling reduces harmful emissions tackles the climate emergency and creates a healthier region for everyone "This integrated approach is crucial to a transport transformation that supports the economic social and environmental wellbeing of the city." "It’s wonderful to have such a high-profile base in the North West where I know there already exists a superb network of greenways and cycle paths "Having an Active Travel Centre at the heart of the community encourages walking and cycling which brings multiple benefits so that we and future generations can live in a healthier "I wish to thank our sponsors Translink and SEUPB who have helped us open this new hub." As well as scheduled and project-based activities the Active Travel Centre will be open to the general public: If you need more information about the new hub, please email Cat Brogan at cat.brogan@sustrans.org.uk Find out more about our Active Travel Hubs in Northern Ireland. Read Laura's story on how a local cycle hub gave her the confidence to get back on the bike and enjoy being in the outdoors with her children. Active Travel Hubs Festival-goers enjoy historical Derry dander with Sustrans Sign up now to hear more about our latest news Sustrans is committed to fundraising in a way which is legal, open, honest and respectful. Read our fundraising promise Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square The Queen has been pleased to appoint Dr Angela Garvey as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry to succeed Sir Donal Keegan KCVO OBE when he retires on 8 October 2013 She is a consultant in palliative care medicine at Algnagelvin Hospital and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh and London She retired from her consultant’s post in May 2013 Dr Garvey is a member of the Association of Palliative Care Medicine GB and Ireland and a member of the Irish Association for Palliative Care and the European Association for Palliative Care She has established close working relationships with Foyle Hospice fostering integration of voluntary and statutory specialist palliative care services and has been involved with local community groups in a project to raise awareness of palliative and end of life care issues Dr Garvey was appointed a deputy lieutenant in November 2004 CR Director at leading construction company Henry Brothers has been appointed the new High Sheriff of Londonderry The Chain of Office was recently presented to Ian by the Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens at a ceremony held in Council’s Civic Headquarters “It is an honour to be named the High Sheriff of Londonderry and I am grateful to have the opportunity to connect and engage with local charities and businesses to enhance the area in which we call home I am fortunate to have worked with a number of these groups already and am pleased that I will be able to build on these relationships further over the next 12 months.” who has previously held the role of President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce was awarded an MBE in 2023 for outstanding contribution to economy and charity in Northern Ireland “I am delighted to see Ian appointed to the role of High Sheriff I wish him every success for the year ahead and I have no doubt he will be a fantastic ambassador for the Borough.” For more information, visit henrybrothers.co.uk opinion and blog entries from Business Eye Business Eye was first published in 1999 and since has grown in stature to become the leading business magazine serving the Northern Ireland marketplace Aimed at readers in senior management positions across the spectrum of business in Northern Ireland Business Eye has gained an enviable reputation for its quality Contact us:info@businesseye.co.uk Car parks across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area will see some changes coming into effect from next month Derry City and Strabane District Council has agreed a new enforcement contract with NSL (Marston Holdings Ltd) to provide enforcement services within our car parks from April 1 Enforcement has been provided since 2015 through an Agreement with the Department for Infrastructure’s who employ the ‘red coat’ traffic attendants NSL (Marston Holding’s Ltd) will provide those services in Derry City and Strabane District Council as well as seven other council areas in Northern Ireland The main change that car park users will see is that the parking attendants will wear a blue uniform but their responsibilities and legal authority remains the same and any Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued will be valid The new contract will also see the introduction of a new cashless parking system in operation at all Council pay and display carparks in Derry and Strabane The Just Park app will be replaced by the ‘RingGo’ app enabling car park users to continue to have the option to pay through their mobile phones as well as at car park pay stations or via a telephone call Car park users are encouraged to download the new RingGo app onto their smart phones and use it from April 2 It is available on Google Play Store and the App Store Car park users will still be able to pay for their parking with cash using the machines provided throughout the city and district which are already available at most pay and display car parks will continue to be available to those who wish to purchase in advance Tickets already purchased will remain valid until their expiry date part of Marston Holdings Ltd through the following contact 0333 0068 351 For more information, visit www.derrystrabane.com SDLP councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr is set to become the first black mayor in the North's history Derry and Strabane is set to make history by having the North's first black mayor Derry Now understands that SDLP councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr has gained the party's nomination to replace current incumbent Patricia Logue as the city and district's in June Cllr Seenoi-Barr was first co-opted to Derry and Strabane District Council in 2021 She was subsequently elected in the 2023 local elections Derry Now understands that a selection convention was due to take place on Monday evening However the meeting has since been cancelled as the party's management committee has opted to nominate Cllr Seenoi-Barr for mayor instead of taking it to a vote among the party's 300 members Two other candidates were in the running to become the SDLP's pick for mayor they were councillors Shauna Cusack and Jason Barr councillors Cusack and Barr expressed concerns over the party's selection process of who was to become the new mayor The councillors stated that the result of a "retrospective which we were told was a matter of procedure for constitutional purposes At no stage were we advised that this would determine our candidacy" The also stated that the decision by the party's management committee was "misleading and evasive" councillors Cusack and Barr said: "Sadly by now you will have received notification that the selection convention arranged for Monday coming to select a Mayor for Derry City and Strabane District Council has been postponed Please be advised that this has NOT been postponed but CANCELLED "Many of you have been in touch to ask why as you have already made arrangements to attend and updated your membership accordingly "This has occurred because the management committee/panel have decided earlier this week to reject cllr Shauna Cusack and cllr Jason Barr as candidates removing us from the process and competition in order to put only one candidate forward for the post “We were advised that this was the result of a retrospective “At no stage were we advised that this would determine our candidacy "As an elected rep with an 11-year mandate popular local profile and strong track record on delivery for the SDLP alongside a current Deputy Mayor with an excellent portfolio and community platform never did we imagine we would not have the calibre or criteria to be eligible for the post of Mayor of our city and district never mind not given the opportunity to present or compete in a democratic selection "As you will be aware we had already been nominated and the three candidates details “We had also been supplied with your emails from HQ and canvassed you all for your support So this came as much as a shock to us as I’m sure it does to you now.” The statement added: “I feel it is important that you are aware of the full circumstances surrounding this surprising and abnormal situation as the information from HQ is “To avoid any confusion there will be no future date for a selection convention competition but rather one to ratify the single candidate who has now been selected by the management committee “Both myself and Jason are incredibly disappointed and frustrated that you will not be given the opportunity to vote for your candidate of choice to be the next SDLP first citizen lodged our objections to this highly irregular unfair and unprecedented process and appealed to the committee to immediately review their decision on the basis of fairness and transparency." Both councillors say the have appealed to the selected candidate to "stand with us asking for solidarity in our request for a reconsideration and to also demand the vote proceed on Monday the 29th as planned" The said: “Our requests have been met with silence from all concerned This means that with the tight deadline for action expiring today “We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for any engagement and support you have given us not only during our mandate but especially during this highly flawed process “We are sorry for any disappointment you may feel Please be assured that this is not a case of ‘sour grapes’ but a genuine concern about the lack of democracy in the process “To be clear no blame can be assigned to our friends on the council group and local elected reps who have been equally dismayed and disappointed Wishing the best of luck to the future Mayor for the year ahead.” Home / No university in Derry/Londonderry Labour politician Lord Adonis recently tweeted that he finds it “scandalous that Ulster’s second city is still denied its own university” and could have been based in Derry/Londonderry In the early 1960s, there were calls for a second university in Northern Ireland. In the aftermath of the Robbins report on the future of higher education in the UK a committee led by classicist John Lockwood was introduced to investigate the needs of higher education in Northern Ireland Four candidate sites were considered by Sir John Lockwood and his committee: Armagh Coleraine; Craigavon (yet to be established) The committee’s report, released in the beginning of 1965, recommended establishing a second university and suggested Coleraine as the location, overlooking Magee College. The ins and outs of this story of this second university and the role of Magee College is described in a chapter of a book written by Gerard O’Brien A cabinet meeting in January 1965 revealed that “a straightforward acceptance of the Lockwood recommendations on Magee … would produce a storm which could capsize the entire Report” The Government Statement therefore states that Magee College should not “cease to exist” and that they will look for “a continuing use for the College within the field of higher education” The Lockwood report claimed that the Coleraine area “satisfies our criteria better than any of the other areas considered”. One of the main reasons given was that Magee College was considered too small to maintain the required number of students and was ill suited for expansion But others saw different reasons. Gerry Fitt MP used his maiden speech in Westminster to say that “in Londonderry Catholics and Protestants banded together to have the university sited there” but “the only consideration which activated the minds of the Unionist powers in Northern Ireland was that two-thirds of the population of Londonderry were Catholics” There is a documentary film about the construction of the Coleraine campus recorded by Bob Allard and commentary by Registrar In the early 1980s, a new report on higher education in Northern Ireland was published by the Chilver Committee It noted “the population of Magee College halved in size and became almost exclusively local in origin” since its incorporation into the NUU undergraduate studies became exclusively concentrated in Coleraine and ceased on the Magee campus In January 2016, Ulster University submitted a plan to the Department for Employment and Learning and the Northern Ireland Executive: “The intention is that by 2025 the overall provision at the Magee campus will rise to 9,400 full time equivalent students This includes increasing full time undergraduate places by 2,636 A partnership with the North West Regional College will achieve an additional 750 full-time undergraduate places by 2024.” Today, the plan still remains with the Department of the Economy, awaiting the appointment of new Northern Ireland Executive ministers. UU plans for a graduate medical school at the Magee campus have also been delayed due to the lack of a functioning Executive Some voices within the city argue that a new institution—independent of UU—should be established, to bring 7,000 students to the region. A leader column in the Derry News from January 2018 explains: “The city must urgently start considering alternatives to UU argued strongly that the lands and finances at Magee should be handed back to the city to allow it start its own third level institute.” It suggests that “Derry consider lobbying to become a constituent college of the National University of Ireland” CLAIM: The Minister for Education’s own officials believed that applications by two schools in Bangor for integrated status should be approved CLAIM: There is substantial unmet demand for post-primary integrated education in Ards and North Down Home / Are there 40,000 third-level students in the northwest of Ireland CLAIM: There are 40,000 third-level students in northwest Ireland with 7,000 graduates annually ready for employment Available data shows 9,370 third-level students in northwest Ireland with approximately 3,300 graduates a year in the region The Ireland Northwest Trade & Investment mission may have included figures for Ulster University Coleraine which is outside the geography covered by the partnership On 12 November 2019, Derry City and Strabane Council published a promotional video in which it claimed that “Ireland Northwest” contained “40,000 third level students” with “7,000 graduates annually ready for employment” The claim of 40,000 third-level students is also made on the mission’s website: The video was produced for a project called Ireland Northwest. A dedicated website provides a description: “The Ireland Northwest Trade & Investment Mission is a collaboration between Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council.” overlaid with the constituent boundaries of the two council areas This infers the geographical area that is represented by the “key facts” that Ireland Northwest presents In Northern Ireland, NI Direct defines third-level education as “higher education” that takes place “after you leave school” and at universities and Further Education colleges It notes that this may include Bachelor’s degrees and “certificates and other academic awards granted by a university or higher education college” the providers of third-level education in northwest Ireland (i.e the constituencies covered by Ireland Northwest) are: Are there 40,000 third-level students enrolled in these colleges There are 9,370 third-level students enrolled in these colleges we can say that there are 9,370 third-level students in the northwest region of the island of Ireland This total includes both part-time and full-time students UU Coleraine had 3,576 students: 3,150 undergraduate and 426 postgraduate This would increase our estimate from 9,370 to 12,946 third-level students We contacted Derry City and Strabane District Council to ask how they arrived at their figure of 40,000 third-level students They did not elaborate and asked that we submit a Freedom of Information request instead We will update this article when we receive a reply FactCheckNI is unsure where the discrepancy in numbers has come from. There is a possibility that Derry City and Strabane District Council may have included students from NWRC studying at Level 3 and above which is classified as “further education” and is a separate classification from third-level education However NWRC also provided us with an estimate of 7,190 students studying in further and higher education so even including these students would add 6,133 Derry City and Strabane District Council published a promotional video on 12 November 2019 with the aim of attracting investment into the Ireland Northwest region The video claimed that “Ireland Northwest” had 40,000 students in third-level education with 7,000 graduates ready for employment annually We were able to obtain student numbers and graduation numbers for the three colleges in the region We found that there were 9,370 third-level students in northwest Ireland and that approximately 3,300 people graduate with a third-level qualification in the region per year Derry City and Strabane District Council’s claim is inaccurate Marcus chalks off another summit during his Three Peaks Challenge HAVING already achieved extraordinary feats by conquering the Three Peaks Challenge last summer a Coleraine man is set to embark on a remarkable journey to support Air Ambulance NI.At the same time Marcus Christie will again demonstrate his unwavering commitment to honour his late mother’s memory while making a profound difference to the lives of others.Marcus is preparing to scale new heights by tackling Mount Kilimanjaro in October and prior to that is organizing a grand Gala Ball to commemorate what would have been his mother’s 80th birthday in July.Joan Christie CVO OBE and former Lord Lieutenant of Co Antrim Joan had a remarkable life and made huge contributions to Northern Ireland welcoming members of the Royal family and world leaders to Northern Ireland In addition to her role as Lord Lieutenant Joan Christie held a number of significant positions on various public bodies and charitable committees where her leadership and dedication made a lasting impact.Marcus said: “I am profoundly inspired by my mother and all her achievements it seems fitting to honour her memory by embodying the values of service and dedication that she exemplified throughout her life “Having seen first-hand the Air Ambulance medical team at scene I want to support the incredible work of the charity Air Ambulance NI and hope this will make a difference to people who need their critical care in future.”The Gala Ball is scheduled to take place at the esteemed Royal Court Hotel in Portrush on July 5th.Marcus added: “I have reached out to my family friends and community to support the event and the response has been phenomenal “ I am now seeking support for auction and raffle prizes please do get in touch at summerball2024@outlook.com”Air Ambulance NI plays a critical role in providing emergency medical care and transportation to those in need across Northern Ireland The funds raised through Marcus's efforts will directly contribute to sustaining and enhancing the life-saving services provided by the charity.Ian Crowe Trustee of Air Ambulance NI and Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Londonderry said: “As we reflect on Joan Christie’s remarkable life it is lovely that Marcus has chosen to honour her memory in this way “We are immensely grateful for Marcus's dedication and determination to support His endeavours exemplify the spirit of community and compassion and we are honoured to have his support and enthusiasm.”The charity Air Ambulance NI offers advanced critical care across the region through the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) which is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership between Air Ambulance NI Charity and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS).The medical team is tasked on average twice a day to the most critically ill individuals who have experienced a serious trauma injury or medical incident reaching any part of the province within 25 minutes The service has been tasked on 4,013 times since the start of operations in July 2017 The charity aspires to raise £2.5m annually to sustain the service More information is available online at www.airambulanceni.org You can also contact the charity on info@airambulanceni.org or calling 028 9262 2677 Share your opinions on Alpha Newspaper Group Stay connected to us to get the latest news and updates LebTown Supervisor William Bova was late to the reorganizational meeting. Solicitor Patrick Armstrong was absent. From left, vice chairman Jack Custer, chairwoman Faith Bucks, assistant zoning officer Richie Deibert, and Chief of Police William Reigle. (Jess Benninger) Lebanon County’s most essential weekly read non-partisan journalism?Become a champion of local news and unlock additional benefits as a LebTown member Already a member? Log in here to hide these messages Help keep it that way by supporting LebTown’s independent journalism Join the 1,000+ LebTown readers who support our work as members This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project The South Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors held its reorganizational meeting for 2025 and its January regular meeting on Monday The board unanimously approved all appointments listed on the reorganizational meeting agenda with other township appointments including: supervisors unanimously approved the following agenda items: supervisors addressed a resident’s concerns about installing a fence within township easements and passed several routine resolutions approached the board to request permission to install a fence due to safety concerns with a swale that runs through the property The original request for the fence was denied due to the township’s easement as a part of stormwater drainage efforts A representative from Steckbeck Engineering and Surveying Inc also presented data supporting Berger’s request and noted that neighboring townships have approved similar requests Berger also said he is willing to raise the bottom rung of the fence and keep openings free from lawn clippings to prevent disruptions to water flow If you rely on us for your Lebanon County news Assistant zoning officer Richie Deibert supported the board granting permission but noted that similar requests from other residents will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will take the needs of the township stormwater drainage into consideration first Supervisors unanimously passed a motion to grant permission through a declaration of covenants that is subject to all comments by the township solicitor and engineer being addressed The board also unanimously passed authorization to purchase a new highway vehicle through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s COSTARS Cooperative Purchasing Program The cost for the vehicle and bed upfit is $120,335 the board unanimously passed several resolutions related to the new year: The South Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors meets at 7 p.m Meetings are held in the municipal building at 27 W Next month’s board and reorganizational meeting will be held on Tuesday Reach our newsroom using this contact form and we’ll do our best to get back to you Join our community of local news champions Quality local journalism takes time and resources. While LebTown is free to read, we rely on reader support to sustain our in-depth coverage of Lebanon County. Become a monthly or annual member to help us expand our reporting, or support our work with a one-time contribution Barley Snyder BlueScope Buildings North America Brick Property Services Caring Transitions of Hershey & Lebanon PA Community Health Council of Lebanon County Cornwall Manor Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority Gretna Music Henise Tire Service In The Net Jono Hardware Lebanon Area Fair Lebanon County Bar Association Lebanon Internal Medicine Associates Reliable Moving & Storage Salvation Army Lebanon Corps Steckbeck Engineering & Surveying, Inc. The Original Mount Gretna Cicada Music Festival