Mallon replaces Maginness on Belfast City Council
Wed 6th January

SDLP North Belfast Councillor Nichola Mallon has promised to work hard for the Oldpark community upon her co-option onto Belfast City Council last night.

Ms Mallon, 30, a Trinity Politics graduate, will replace North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness on the Council.

She said: “Coming from Ardoyne, I feel very privileged and honoured to be selected by the SDLP to replace Alban Maginness MLA and serve the people of the Oldpark Ward.

 “It will be no easy challenge replacing Alban but I am determined to continue to roll up my sleeves and get hard to work on the ground on the bread and butter issues that matter to local residents.

 “I am in Belfast City Council to ensure their voices are heard and their interests are represented and I am looking forward to joining the SDLP’s strong Council team”.   

Meanwhile North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness has welcomed Miss Mallon as his replacement on Belfast City Council.

He said: “I am delighted that such an intelligent young woman like Nichola Mallon is to take my place representing the people of Oldpark on Belfast City Council. My delight is tinged with a degree of sadness having been a member of Council for the past 24 years.

 “When I was first elected to represent Castle in 1985, I entered a council that was shortly to become seriously divided on the issue of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. To my party colleagues and me at that time, the agreement was a huge step forward for the nationalist community.

 “My fondest memory and greatest honour as a councillor was being elected as the first Nationalist Lord Mayor of Belfast in June 1997.  I was also the first Catholic to be elected since the City Charter was issued in1613. The political mould was definitely broken, the Unionist monopoly on political power was well and truly smashed and the politics of the City Hall had changed forever.

"My commitment to improving the lives of all people in North Belfast remains undiminished. I have always strived to do the very best I can to help the people I represent and I will continue to do so as MLA for the area. I am also confident my replacement will work tirelessly with the strong SDLP Belfast City Council team for the needs of all people in the area.

“My decision to step down is line with SDLP policy to end dual mandates at all levels of government and one that will be repeated in other areas across the North in due course.”