New year, new mayor for Dublin

Fine Gael councillor Emma Blain has been named the new Lord Mayor of Dublin.

The Pembroke councillor and general election candidate in Dublin Bay South was tapped to replace her running mate James Geoghegan after his successful Dáil bid in November.

Blain and Geoghegan represent the same local electoral area – Pembroke – meaning that the Lord Mayor chains will remain in Pembroke hands.

Geoghegan was on hand to address the chamber following his first day as a TD, thanking Deputy Lord Mayor Donna Cooney for stepping in for him in recent weeks and saying “you’ve done Dublin very proud.”

The new TD said, “for those of us who have had the honour of saving as Lord Mayor of Dublin it is only when you go in there you realise there is a team as dedicated to Dublin as you are.”

“I always said in the opening of every speech that I was the 356th Lord Mayor of Dublin simply to remind people of the longevity of this office; none of that happens by accident.”

Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan congratulated Geogehgan on his Dáil election, saying that his performance as Lord Mayor was “very impressive” and he hoped Geoghegan would “continue to be a strong voice for democracy in Dublin – I’m sure he will be a formidable force in the Dáil.”

He noted that Geoghegan, in his first speech as Lord Mayor in June, called for a focus on inclusion, which Doolan noted was especially important in the context of the far-right seeing electoral success in Dublin.

“The far-right managed to get a toehold in local government, nothing too serious, we’ve managed to see them off. But you are right; we need to see them off.”

Geoghegan established a task force dedicated to inclusion following his election as Lord Mayor in June, which Doolan hopes is granted the same legislative power as other sub-committees on Dublin City Council.

Blain is no stranger to Dublin politics having been first co-opted to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council in 2016 before winning a seat outright in the 2019 local elections.

For the 2024 local elections, Blain was drafted in as a running mate alongside Geoghegan in Pembroke and was his running mate in the recent general election.

Prior to her career in politics, Blain was a journalist for the Sunday Independent, worked in digital media for Fine Gael, and also served as editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette.

Upon accepting the role, Blain said “Dublin is a wonderful city and in the last year we’ve had to take a long, hard look at ourselves.”

“But in doing so, we must not lose sight of the essence of what makes this city so special.”

“Dublin is a city famed for its rich cultural heritage from the streets that hold this city’s pride, history, the architectural beauty of our buildings, our world renowned literary and musical talent, our proud sporting achievements, the list goes on.”

“But none of that would mean anything without the people that call this city home, the people we represent, Dubliners.”

“It is the greatest honour that any Dubliner can have to be elected its first citizen. I am enormously proud to have been given that honour and look forward to meeting our wonderful people from across this city.”

She noted “from my own perspective I want to advance women’s participation in sport and think sport is hugely important to women and girls in forming every aspect of their life and I want to do what I can about positive ageing planning and including our elderly in our communities.”

Mother of two children (Hunter 10, Tilly 9,) Blaine said that her children were looking forward to the live crib in the Mansion House noting that Tilly had already picked out a name for one of the donkeys.

Fine Gael councillor Patrick Kinsella nominated Blain for the role of Lord Mayor, saying “Dún Laoghaire’s loss was Pembroke’s gain.”

“To her credit, she has always managed to work successfully with parties right across the chambers,” and praised her recent general election campaign where “on another day she easily could have found herself elected; I have no doubt that at some stage in the future she will go onto be successful in that stage.”

“I would like to say quite simply that Emma Blain is a woman for others.”

The opposition grouping on Dublin City Council proposed Social Democrats councillor Daniel Ennis as their Lord Mayor candidate, just as they did in June, but the nomination fell through as the Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and Greens grouping has a majority on the council.

The meeting saw a number of Southside councillors have their seats co-opted following their Dáil election.

James Geoghegan’s seat was filled by David Coffey, Eoin Hayes’ seat was filled by former Social Democrats councillor Tara Deacy, Jen Cummins’ seat was filled by Lesley Byrne, and Máire Devine’s seat was filled by Ciarán Ó Meachair.