Fianna Fáil councillor tipped to become Dublin's Lord Mayor next week
A new Lord Mayor of Dublin is set to chair Dublin City Council from next Monday.
Every June, councillors meet to elect a new Lord Mayor to represent the city for the next 12 months. With Lord Mayor Councillor Ray McAdam finishing his tenure, he has presided over major events in a largely ceremonial role as Dublin's first citizen.
Internal sources have indicated to Dublin Live that Fianna Fáil Cllr Daryl Barron is due to take up the role. While any councillor can technically be nominated and elected, a pre-arranged agreement among the majority of councillors means the vote is generally simply a formality.
The role dates back centuries, with the first Mayor of Dublin elected in 1229 and the title elevated to Lord Mayor in 1665. Following the reforms of 1840, the role became largely symbolic and consisted primarily of chairing city council meetings and representing Dublin at various events.
Unlike in many other cities, where executive powers are carried out by a democratically elected mayor , in Dublin, and around Ireland, it is the government appointed Chief Executive (currently Richard Shakespeare) who exercises this power.
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.
It was a significant period for Lord Mayor McAdam who, along with Deputy Lord Mayor John Stephens (Fianna Fáil), balanced his civic duties with a campaign in the Dublin Central by-election. While the Social Democrats’ candidate then Cllr Daniel Ennis ultimately secured the Dáil seat , Cllr McAdam’s high-profile tenure as Lord Mayor has increased his name recognition ahead of any potential general election run.
But, attention now turns to next Monday’s annual meeting, where the focus will shift toward the future and, if voting takes place as anticipated, Cllr Barron will take up the mantle of Lord Mayor. In a city grappling with a major housing crisis, skyrocketing cost-of-living, and issues of anti-social behaviour persisting, there is no shortage of matters the people of Dublin will want their first citizen to prioritise over the next 12 months.
The Annual Council Meeting to elect a new Lord Mayor takes place on Monday, June 29 at 6:15pm in Dublin’s City Hall.
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