Sinn Fein now holds six mayoral or chair positions on Northern Ireland’s eleven councils for the 2026/27 term, an increase of two from the previous year. Unionist parties retained five mayoralties, unchanged, while the remaining roles are held by Alliance and SDLP members. The appointments were made at annual general meetings across the region.

In Antrim and Newtownabbey, Henry Cushinan became Sinn Fein’s first mayor of the borough. His deputy is Alison Bennington of the DUP, replacing outgoing mayor Leah Kirkpatrick of the UUP and deputy Julie Gilmour of Alliance. During his acceptance speech, Cushinan, who was first elected to Antrim Borough Council in 1985, spoke of his political journey from imprisonment in the H-Blocks to joining Sinn Fein in 1983. He pledged to work with all parties and to focus on economic development and the environmental conservation of Lough Neagh. Outgoing mayor Kirkpatrick, the borough’s first female mayor, said she hoped her tenure encouraged other women to consider public service.

In Belfast, DUP’s Thomas Gordon became mayor with UUP’s Bethany Carson-Ferris as deputy, succeeding two unionists. Derry and Strabane saw Sinn Fein’s Rois-Maire Donnelly take the mayor’s chain with Alliance’s Hedley Abernethy as deputy, replacing a DUP mayor and an independent deputy. In Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, Sinn Fein’s Mary O’Dowd became mayor with DUP’s Lavelle McIlwrath as deputy. Fermanagh and Omagh retained Sinn Fein’s Grace Ui Niallais as mayor, with SDLP’s Catherine McDaid as new deputy.

Mid Ulster, which has a chairperson, appointed Sinn Fein’s Deirdre Varsani as chair with DUP’s Eva Cahoon as deputy. Newry, Mourne and Down also has a chairperson: Sinn Fein’s Debbie Coyle and Stephen McCann took both roles, maintaining party control. In Lisburn and Castlereagh, UUP’s Craig Blaney became mayor with DUP’s James Cochrane as deputy, replacing an Alliance pair. Ards and North Down saw DUP’s Brian Higginson become mayor with Alliance’s Aaron McIntyre as deputy. Causeway Coast and Glens appointed DUP’s Dawn Huggins as mayor and UUP’s Sandra Hunter as deputy, ousting a Sinn Fein mayor and Alliance deputy. In Mid and East Antrim, DUP’s Glyn Hanna became chair with SDLP’s Doire Finn as deputy, replacing a Sinn Fein chair and deputy.

Speaking at the Antrim and Newtownabbey meeting, DUP Alderman Matthew Magill said the appointment of a Sinn Fein mayor was a reminder to unionists of the consequences of not participating in elections. He stressed the collective role councillors have regardless of politics.