Former Magherafelt councillor dies after battle with illness

Tributes have been paid to former Magherafelt councillor Lughaidh Mac Giolla Bhrighde who died last night (Monday, October 3) following a battle with illness.
Lughaidh, second leftLughaidh, second left
Lughaidh, second left

Lughaidh, who was from Maghera, first served on Magherafelt District Council 1985 with Sinn Fein and worked for many years with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

Mid Ulster Sinn Fein councillor Sean McPeake has extended his sympathies to the Mac Giolla Bhrighde family following his death.

Councillor McPeake said: “Lughaidh was a strong and deeply committed republican and a brother of the late IRA Volunteer Antoine Mac Giolla Bhrighde.

“Lughaidh was a committed Gael and was an active member of Sinn Fein’s cultural department before being elected to Magherafelt Council in 1985.

“He served the people of South Derry for a number of years and at a time when it was extremely dangerous to do so.

“Following his role in council Lughaidh continued to be politically active and also worked for many years in the Ambulance Service.

“His loss will be greatly felt by his family, his wife Moira, children Aona, Fiontán and Sinead and by the wider Republican community of South Derry.”

He also made headlines with the BBC, when he spoke out about the difficulties of changing his name to the Irish spelling, from McBride in 2013.

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