Maolíosa McHugh

Maolíosa McHugh is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has served as Member of the Legislative Assembly for West Tyrone from 28 May 2019 until he stood down on 1 September 2026. Previously, he was a local councillor and Mayor of Derry and Strabane.

Early life

McHugh was born in Mournebeg, a rural area west of Castlederg, County Tyrone. He worked as a lecturer in the North West Regional College (previously the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education) for almost 33 years.

Political career McHugh first elected to Strabane District Council in 2011; he continued as member of Derry City and Strabane District Council when they were merged, and he served as Mayor of Derry and Strabane in 2017–18. During his term, he was criticised for refusing to meet Prince Charles or send a council representative to a Buckingham Palace garden party. He lost his seat in the 2019 local election.

McHugh was coopted onto the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2019. Órfhlaith Begley MP described McHugh as "A true republican with a wealth of knowledge and experience."

On 1 April 2026, he announced he would not constest the next Northern Ireland Assembly election.