Geoghegan elected new Lord Mayor of Dublin

Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan has been elected as the 356^th Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Geoghegan has become the first Fine Gael Lord Mayor of Dublin since Naoise Ó Muirí was elected in 2012.

Geoghegan, who ran for Fine Gael in the 2021 Dublin Bay South by-election and will be the party’s candidate in the upcoming general election, was elevated to the position after Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, the Greens and Labour formed a ruling group to run Dublin City Council.

Speaking on Friday, Geoghegan said, “I am honoured to be appointed the 356^th Lord Mayor of Dublin and I thank my colleagues for placing their trust in me to fulfil this prestigious role.”

“I intend to put all my energy and focus into representing the city that I love and to deliver solutions to some of the challenges faced by the capital’s communities and businesses.”

“My priorities as a councillor over the last four and a half years have been on the delivery of homes for young people, tackling anti-social behaviour and crime, and ensuring we have an inclusive society where families and individuals can enjoy a good quality of life.”

“It is also essential that agencies including Dublin City Council continue to work together to ensure Dublin city is a safe and welcoming place where visitors and residents alike can enjoy our renowned hospitality and culture.

“I am humbled to take up the role of Dublin Lord Mayor and will continue to work hard on behalf of the capital’s citizens.”

Geoghegan and fellow Pembroke councillor Hazel Chu were the first two councillors elected to Dublin City Council for the 2024-2029 term, with both of them being elected on the first count.

Geoghegan won by 32 votes to 25, defeating Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats.

Ennis was nominated by a left-leaning alliance consisting of the Social Democrats, Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, and left-wing councillors.

Labour and the Greens, with their combined 12 councillors, took part in initial talks with Social Democrats, Sinn Féin and independent left-wing councillors, but Labour walked from the proposed coalition over the issue of Local Property Tax, while the Greens’ refusal to take part in the coalition seemingly resulting from the party wishing to stick with their senior coalition partners in Government.

Green councillor Donna Cooney will serve as Deputy Lord Mayor during Geoghegan’s stint as Lord Mayor.

As a result of the coalition parties and Labour reaching an agreement to run Dublin City Council, each of the four parties will be guaranteed the position of Lord Mayor over the course of the next Dublin City Council term.

Anti-immigrant independent councillors Gavin Pepper and Malachy Steenson abstained from the vote.