Mid Ulster District Council has approved the purchase of Christmas lights displaying text in English, Irish and Ulster-Scots for Dungannon town.

Councillors voted in favour of the proposal at a recent meeting. The decision followed a call-in attempt by the DUP, which councillors overturned.

Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Varsani put forward the proposal. She serves as a councillor in Dungannon.

Varsani stated that councils have a duty to advance equality for an inclusive society. She added that the Irish language is part of every community segment in the area and merits recognition.

At an Environment committee meeting of Mid Ulster Council last December, Varsani cited 2021 Census data. The figures place Mid Ulster at the top in Northern Ireland for Irish language skills and everyday usage.