New leadership for Causeway Coast and Glens: Councillor Oliver McMullan appointed Mayor

Newly appointed Mayor Cllr Oliver McMullan pictured alongside newly appointed Deputy Mayor Ald Richard Stewart.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has appointed Sinn Féin’s Councillor Oliver McMullan as the new Mayor, with Alderman Richard Stewart of the Alliance Party confirmed as Deputy Mayor.

The announcement was made during the Annual Council Meeting held at Cloonavin, marking a new chapter in leadership for the Borough.

In his opening address, Councillor McMullan expressed his enthusiasm for the role, saying he “was extremely pleased” to become Mayor and that he “very much looked forward to working with Alderman Stewart.”

Outgoing Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Cllr McQuillan handing over to newly appointed Mayor Cllr Oliver McMullan.

Representing The Glens District Electoral Area (DEA), Cllr McMullan takes over the mayoral chain from his party colleague, Cllr McQuillan. He becomes the first Mayor from The Glens to hold the office since the establishment of the Borough Council.

Cllr McMullan commented:

“As the first Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens representing The Glens I am extremely proud and privileged to be selected as Mayor by the party, thank you to my colleagues for trusting me with this position and thank you to my wife Sinéad and my family for their support.

“I take on the role of Mayor with extreme pride and hope to build upon the work of Cllr McQuillan and Cllr Stirling as I progress through my term.

“I look forward to showcasing The Glens alongside our Council area as a whole and I will continue to support all of our residents from community groups, social enterprises, volunteers and everyone in between whose work goes on quietly in the background for all of us here in Causeway Coast and Glens.

“As Mayor I will do my utmost to ensure our Council area is shown in its best light and that we support and also thank everyone who makes this a wonderful and beautiful place to live.”

(Left) Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens,Alderman Richard Stewart

Alderman Richard Stewart, a representative for the Causeway DEA and a member of the Alliance Party, was officially named Deputy Mayor during the same meeting. In his remarks, he extended his congratulations to the new Mayor and reflected on the historic nature of his own appointment.

“Firstly I would like to congratulate our new Mayor Cllr McMullan who I look forward to working closely with.

“To be entrusted with this position is a privilege I do not take lightly. Representing such a diverse, vibrant, and resilient Borough is both humbling and inspiring. It is a role that comes with responsibility, and I promise to carry it out with integrity, openness, and a genuine desire to serve all who call this place home.

“On a personal note, it is not lost on me that I am the first openly gay person to hold this post in our Council’s history.

“While I take pride in this milestone, I also recognise it as part of a wider journey—a journey towards greater inclusion, understanding, and acceptance. I hope my appointment sends a positive message to those who have ever felt unseen or unheard: that there is a place for everyone in public life, and that diversity strengthens, not divides, our communities.

“As I look ahead to the year to come, my aspirations are clear. What matters most to me is getting out into our towns, villages, and rural communities across this beautiful Borough — meeting residents, listening to their concerns, supporting local groups and organisations, and championing the incredible work already happening on the ground.”

Cllr McMullan and Alderman Stewart both emphasised their dedication to serving residents, strengthening local communities, and promoting the unique character and beauty of the Borough.