Fianna Fáil Councillor Daryl Barron elected Lord Mayor of Dublin
Fianna Fáil Councillor Daryl Barron has been elected as Lord Mayor of Dublin .
At tonight’s Special Council Meeting, Dublin City Councillors elected Cllr Barron as Dublin’s ‘first citizen,’ with Labour Cllr Alison Field serving as Deputy Lord Mayor. They will hold these titles for next 12 months and are replacing former Lord Mayor Ray McAdam and former Deputy Lord Mayor John Stephens.
Cllr Barron represents Donaghmede and has served as the chairperson for the North Central Area Committee. He was first elected in the 2019 local elections and maintained his seat in 2024.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Rory Hogan formally nominated Cllr Barron for the role of Lord Mayor. He described Cllr Barron as a politician who has consistently focused on “doing what is right for Dublin” and who “genuinely cares for the city and the people that live here”. He stressed “these are the qualities that matter in public service” and that he will bring the “energy, humility, and genuineness” that the role of 359th Lord Mayor of Dublin requires.
Speaking in Dublin’s City Hall, Lord Mayor Cllr Barron described his election as "the greatest honour of my life" and expressed gratitude at becoming Dublin's "first citizen". "Every politician stands on the shoulders of who came before them but today my deepest gratitude belongs with my family," he said.
Lord Mayor Barron announced his mayoral theme of 'Our Dublin,' which is based on three key pillars: A safer and cleaner capital, tackling dereliction and vacancy, and empowering youth and honouring communities. “The challenges ahead are significant, but my determination is absolute,” he said. “Let us clear litter from the streets, build the homes our people deserve, expand the safety in our neighbourhood and return the hope to our young people.”
Clontarf representative Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Alison Field joined Dublin City Council in 2024. As a mother of a child with additional needs, she has campaigned for school places for children with Autism and recently travelled with other parents to the European Parliament in Brussels to demand the Irish government meet its legal obligations to address often years-long waiting lists for their assessment of needs.
Upon her election Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Field said being elected is a “huge honour” and said she committed to inclusion, respect and equality for all. She especially thanked her mother, who turned 90 just a few weeks ago, and was supporting her in the council chamber.
She called for more police on streets, more youth engagement, and support to “stop them going down the route of crime”. She highlighted the need for inclusion and supporting families of those with additional needs. Deputy Lord Mayor also addressed the plight of homelessness and the need for sports infrastructure for young people.
Speaking of Cllr Field's election, Fine Gael Cllr Gayle Ralph stated: "We all know Alison for her unwavering advocacy on behalf of her beautiful son, James. She has transformed her family's story into a movement that has supported children and families across the country. No parent should ever have to become an activist simply to secure the supports their child is entitled to, but Alison has turned her family's struggle into a force for change, giving hope to families who feel they have no voice."
Cllr Ralph highlighted that despite the dedication of parents, many children with additional needs remain without a suitable school place for the coming academic year. She also praised Cllr Field's work on Dublin City Council's Childcare Working Group, where she has championed equal access to education and childcare for every child, regardless of ability or additional needs.
Referring to Cllr Field's campaign, Cllr Ralph noted that the issue has now reached the European Parliament, with the Committee on Petitions formally engaging with the Irish Government following concerns raised about delays in supports and the shortage of school places for children with additional needs.
Cllr Ralph said: "No child should be left without a school place because of a disability. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, to belong and to reach their potential. Parents should be spending the summer preparing their children for school, not fighting simply to secure a place."
She concluded by saying that Alison Field's compassion, determination and commitment to fairness make her an outstanding Deputy Lord Mayor and wished her every success in the role.
The Progressive Alliance on Dublin City Council unsuccessfully put forward their own candidates , nominating Social Democrats Cllr Jesslyn Henry for Lord Mayor and Sinn Féin Cllr Edel Moran for Deputy Lord Mayor. The alliance is made up of Social Democrats, Sinn Féin, Independent and People Before Profit councillors.
The group called out Labour and Green Party councillors for “propping up Fianna Fail and Fine Gael,” as a pre-agreed voting pact among a majority of councillors meant tonight’s vote was essentially a formality.
"Jesslyn works tirelessly for her community in Kilmore, fighting for high-quality public housing and the proper resourcing of vital services such as special needs provision in schools. Jesslyn's advocacy on autism awareness led to Dublin City Hall being accredited as Autism Friendly - this is the sort of people-centred, positive, inclusive politics that will make her an excellent Lord Mayor that all Dubliners can be proud of,” the Progressive Alliance said.
Outgoing Lord Mayor McAdam’s term was characterised by his mayoral theme of ‘Celebrating Dublin,’ as he busily lived up to this idea at countless opening ceremonies and public-facing events. As a North Inner City Councillor for the past 18 years, Lord Mayor McAdam endeavoured to celebrate all the city has to offer throughout his tenure.
“That means celebrating not only who we are as a people, but who we have the potential to become - as a capital city of vibrancy, fairness, inclusion, and ambition. My approach is rooted in partnership, civic pride, and a deep belief in the capacity of our city to evolve and thrive,” he outlined following his election last June.
Key ambitions like launching the Lord Mayor’s Commission on Dublin 2050 never quite materialised and efforts to “end the blight of dereliction” through a vacancy map still need to move past the pilot stage seen on North Frederick Street and Middle Abbey Street. But Lord Mayor McAdam’s focus on sports and well-being, inclusivity for people with disabilities, and supporting the city’s youth were at the forefront of many DCC projects over the past 12 months.
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