Independent councillor Francis Timmons elected Mayor of South Dublin County Council
Independent councillor Francis Timmons has been elected Mayor of South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for the 2026/27 council term after a vote at the local authority’s annual general meeting on Friday.
Mr Timmons will succeed Cllr Pamela Kearns in the role after securing 24 votes.
Speaking after his election, Cllr Timmons said he hoped to visit Palestine during his term as mayor.
Cllr Timmons was first elected to the council in 2014 and has represented the Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart and Brittas electoral area. He has also worked in social care for 36 years.
Fellow Independent councillor Liona O’Toole, who nominated Cllr Timmons, described him as “one of the kindest and most genuine people you could ever meet.”
In his acceptance speech, Cllr Timmons expressed solidarity with people affected by conflict around the world.
“My solidarity is with the people of Palestine, who have lost so much from genocide and war,” he said.
“My solidarity is also with Ukraine and with Iran, where up to 45 million people face hunger in a war that breaks international law. We as a society have begun to normalise war. We should never normalise war.”
“I also want to state my desire to visit Palestine, if possible I would like to do that as mayor.”
Cllr Timmons, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, also reflected on his personal experiences during the speech.
“Pride is a great celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, but it is also about the struggle for equality,” he said.
“I reflect on the 10-year-old me who was frightened, sad and confused. I didn’t know what was going on.”
“I spent many years navigating a cruel world pre-decriminalisation, and I want to remember all my friends who died of AIDS.”
Mayor Francis Timmons (Ind) and Deputy Mayor Sarah Barnes
In his closing remarks, he said: “If you wanted a mayor who was not damaged and hurt, you picked the wrong person. But if you wanted someone who works day and night to make this county the best place to visit, work and, above all, live in, you picked the right person.”
“This is the honour of my life,” he added.
“I commit to working with every councillor and every member of council staff to build South Dublin County Council as an inclusive, welcoming and diverse county.”
Fine Gael councillor Sarah Barnes, who represents Firhouse Bohernabreena, was elected as Deputy Mayor at the meeting on Friday.
Meanwhile Fine Gael councillor Sarah Barnes from the Firhouse Bohernabreena electoral area was elected Deputy Mayor at the annual meeting.