Derry Now launches Local Government Election coverage

The Local Government Elections, which take place on May 18 and will see a total of 462 councillors elected to 11 local councils across the North of Ireland.

Forty of those will be elected onto Derry City and Strabane District Council.

You can keep up-to-date with all the Local Government Election 2023 developments in Derry News and online at Derry Now on our dedicated Election Page.

Derry City and Strabane District Council comprises seven wards: Ballyarnett, Derg, Faughan, Foyleside, Sperrin, The Moor, and Waterside.

Ballyarnett
Ballyarnett comprises the district electoral areas of Shantallow East, Galliagh, Shantallow and Carnhill. It has 6 seats.

In 2014, Ballyarnett returned 3 Sinn Féin, 2 SDLP and 1 Independent candidate. In 2019, it returned 3 SDLP, 2 Sinn Féin and 1 Aontú candidate. The SDLP and Aontú gained a seat from Sinn Féin and the Independent.

Derg
Derg comprises five district electoral areas: Finn, Sion Mills, Newtownstewart, Glenderg, and Castlederg. It has 5 seats.

In 2014, it returned 3 Sinn Féin, 1 DUP and 1 UUP candidate. In 2019, it returned 2 Sinn Féin, 1 DUP, 1 UUP and 1 SDLP candidate. The SDLP gained a seat from Sinn Féin.

Faughan
Faughan comprises five district electoral areas: Eglinton, Claudy, Enagh, Newsbuildings, and Slievekirk. It has 5 seats.

In 2014, it returned 2 DUP, 2 SDLP and 1 Sinn Féin candidate. In 2019, it returned 2 DUP, 1 SDLP, 1 Sinn Féin and 1 Alliance candidate. The Alliance Party gained a seat from the SDLP.

Foyleside
Foyleside comprises four district electoral areas: Springtown, Foyle Springs, Northland, and Madam’s Bank. It has 5 seats.

In 2014, it returned 2 SDLP, 2 Sinn Féín and 1 Independent candidate. In 2019, it returned 2 SDLP, 1 Sinn Féin, 1 People Before Profit and 1 independent candidate. People Before Profit gained a seat from Sinn Féin. 

The Moor
The Moor comprises four district electoral areas: Brandywell, City Walls, Creggan, and Creggan South. It has 5 seats.

In 2014, it returned 3 Sinn Féin, 1 SDLP and 1 Independent candidate. In 2019, it returned 2 Sinn Féin, 1 SDLP, 1 People Before Profit and 1 Independent candidate. People Before Profit gained a seat from Sinn Féin.

Waterside
Waterside comprises seven district electoral areas: Lisnagelvin, Ebrington, Victoria, Clondermott, Drumahoe, Kilfennan, and Caw. It has 7 seats.

In 2014, it returned 3 DUP, 2 SDLP, 1 Sinn Féin and 1UUP candidate. In 2019, it returned 2 DUP, 2 SDLP, 1 Sinn Féin, 1 UUP AND 1 Alliance candidate. The Alliance Party gained a seat from the DUP.

Sperrin
Sperrin comprises seven electoral areas: Glenelly Valley, Park, Dunnamanagh, Artigarvan, Ballycoleman, West Strabane and North Strabane. It has 7 seats.

In 2014, it returned 3 Sinn Féin, 2 DUP, 1 SDLP and 1 Independent candidate. In 2019, it returned 2 Sinn Fein, 2 DUP, 2 Independent and 1 SDLP candidates. An Independent gained a seat from Sinn Féin.

Aontú, Alliance, DUP, People Before Profit, SDLP, Sinn Féin, UUP and some Independents have now declared the majority of the candidates they are running on May 18, in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

All candidates must submit their nomination papers to the Electoral Office between Tuesday, April 11 and Monday, April 24.

Declared candidates

The Aontú candidates are: Cllr Emmet Doyle (Ballyarnett), Seán Mac Cearáin (Foyleside), Leza Houston (Derg), Darryl Christie (The Moor), and Darán MacMeanman (Sperrin).

The Alliance candidates are: Cllr Rachel Ferguson (Faughan) and Cllr Philip McKinney (Waterside).

The DUP candidates are: Chelsea Cooke (Waterside), Niree McMorris (Waterside), Julie Middleton (Faughan), Gary Wilkinson (Faughan), Alderman Maurice Devenny (Sperrin), Alderman Alan Bresland (Sperrin), and Alderman Keith Kerrigan (Derg).

The People Before Profit candidates are:  Cllr Shaun Harkin (Foyleside),  Cllr Maeve O'Neill (The Moor), Damian Doherty (Ballyarnett), Davina (Nina) Pulis (Waterside), Damian Gallagher (Faughan), Carol Gallagher (Sperrin) and Adam McGinley (Derg).

The SDLP candidates are: Councillor Brian Tierney (Ballyarnett), Councillor Rory Farrell (Ballyarnett), Catherine McDaid (Ballyarnett), Councillor John Boyle (The Moor), Dermott Henderson (The Moor), Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr (Foyleside), Councillor Shauna Cusack (Foyleside), Stephen McCallion (Foyleside), Councillor Declan Norris (Faughan), Hayley Canning (Faughan), Councillor Sean Mooney (Waterside), Councillor Martin Reilly (Waterside), Councillor Jason Barr (Sperrin), Thomas Forbes (Sperrin) and Councillor Steven Edwards (Derg).

The Sinn Féin candidates are: Cllr Alex Duffy (Faughan), Séan Fleming (Faughan), Cllr Patricia Logue (The Moor), Cllr Emma McGinley (The Moor), Aisling Hutton (The Moor), Cllr Christopher Jackson (Waterside), Caitlin Deeney (Waterside), Cllr Sandra Duffy (Ballyarnett), Cllr John McGowan (Ballyarnett), Pat Murphy (Ballyarnett), Cllr Conor Heaney (Foyleside), Grace Uí Niallais (Foyleside), Fergal Leonard (Sperrin), Paul Boggs (Sperrin) and Brian ‘Barney’ Harte (Sperrin).

The UUP candidates are: Alderman Guy (Waterside), Alderman Ryan McCready (Faughan), Janice Montgomery (Waterside), and Glen Miller (Sperrin).

Independent Alderman Graham Warke is standing in the Faughan ward.

Independent Cllr Gary Donnelly is standing in the Moor ward.

Independent Cllr Paul Gallagher is standing in the Sperrin ward.