West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin to co-opt new councillor on to District Council

Published: 10 August, 2010

Glenn Campbell and Barry McElduff MLA

Glenn Campbell and Barry McElduff MLA

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff has stepped down from Omagh District Council after 10 years on the local government scene. Mr McElduff formally handed in a letter of resignation to the Omagh District Council offices on Monday 2nd August and was accompanied by Dromore native Glenn Campbell who will fill the vacant Sinn Féin seat on the council.

Barry McElduff was first elected to the council in 2000 when he successfully contested a by election and filled the seat left vacant by fellow Sinn Féin member, the late Cathal Quinn. In the intervening period from 2000 until recently Barry was both an MLA and councillor. He had held the post of Chairman of the Council in 2001/02 and was elected to the Assembly in Belfast in 1998, 2003 and 2007. His departure from the council will allow him to focus on his assembly portfolio, which includes chairman of the Culture Arts and Leisure Committee in Stormont.

Speaking after handing in his resignation letter Barry said:

"In stepping down from the council I would like to thank the people of west Tyrone who have elected me to the council in 2000, in 2001 and again in 2005. I would also like to thank the officials at Omagh District Council for their help and assistance, most notably during my tenure as council chairman in 2001.

Dromore native Glenn Campbell will fill Barrys seat on the council. Glenn has been active on many community issues in the west Tyrone area over the past number of years in preparation for his role on the Sinn Féin council team on Omagh District council. He has been assisting Barry McElduff carry out constituency work in the Tattyreagh, Fintona and Eskra areas.

He is also secretary of the Patsy Kelly Sinn Féin Cumann in Dromore, secretary of Omagh Comhairle Ceantair and a member of board of governors at St. Patricks P.S., Eskra and St. Lawrences P.S., Fintona.

Glenn Campbell had this to say ahead of his appointment to the Omagh District Council:

"Barry Mc Elduff MLA has set a very high standard for me to follow and has been a great mentor. He will continue to work closely with me, and all the local councillors, in the time ahead. I am fortunate to be joining a ten strong team of councillors on Omagh District Council. Their experience and expertise will be of great benefit to me as a new Councillor.

"I am passionate about achieving a United Ireland. I believe that the interests of all the people in Ireland will be best served within a United Ireland"


"In the current economic climate many will focus on their education and upskilling. Education is an investment of time, energy and money. We need to ensure that our students will get a return on their investment. We don't want to educate our young people, only to have them travel to other countries to find work. We need to work hard to create jobs that will allow our young people to work at home. "

"Whilst I have been working closely with Barry for a number of years my new role will bring an added dimension to that work. However I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

Concluding Barry McElduff MLA said

"I have every confidence in Glenn to continue the good work he has undertaken to date and wish him well in his new role. I will continue in my role as an MLA and work closely along with Glenn and the other nine Sinn Féin councillors on Omagh District Council. I will certainly continue in my public representative role in a more focused and energised way at Assembly level in the time ahead.