Fine Gael councillor Emma Blain elected new Lord Mayor of Dublin

The Fine Gael councillor was put forward by Fine Gael and had the backing of Fianna Fáil, Labour and the Green Party at tonight’s special council meeting in City Hall.

Social Democrats councillor Cat O’Driscoll nominated councillor Daniel Ennis for the role of Lord Mayor of Dublin, but the grouping outweighed the votes.

She is the 357th Lord Mayor of Dublin and will hold the position until June following outgoing mayor and party colleague James Geoghegan who was elected to the Dáil.

Cllr Blain grew up in Rathmines and has been a councillor for eight years.

She works as editor of The Church of Ireland Gazette and is a mother of two young children Tilly (9) and Hunter (10), she is also a former Sunday Independent journalist.

Ms Blain was joined tonight in City Hall by her mother and father, along with her children.

She unsuccessfully contested in this year’s general election in Dublin Bay South as Geoghegan’s running mate.

She said: “It is the greatest honour a Dubliner can have to be elected as first citizen, and I am hugely humbled by the support of my colleagues in the chamber, and I am really excited about the next six months or so ahead.”

She added that she would like to work on some of the work her party colleague James Geoghegan has done on neurodiversity and inclusion before her.

“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.”

Councillor Blain also revealed that she is moving into Dublin’s Mansion House for Christmas and said her two kids are “incredibly excited” about the live crib in their front garden.

“Tilly has a name lined up for one of the Donkey’s, I think she wants to call it sparkle toes Donkey face,” she added.

“I’m looking forward to Christmas in a very special place and in a very special role.”

She was a former Irish Delegate at European level on the Committee of Regions and has done a lot of work to promote more female participation in politics.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin is elected to office annually by members of Dublin City Council. They reside in the Mansion House on Dawson Street while in office.

The person who holds the office acts as the first citizen of Dublin and acts as an ambassador for the city locally and internationally. They also preside over meetings of the Council.

Also, at tonight’s meeting of Dublin City Council, seven new members were co-opted onto Dublin City Council following the general election last month.

The outgoing seven members of the Council, following their election to Dáil Éireann, are:

James Geoghegan, Naoise O Muirí, Tom Brabazon, Máire Devine, Jen Cummins, Eoin Hayes and Barry Heneghan.

David Coffey was co-opted into the council to replace Fine Gael’s James Geoghegan.

Clodagh Ní Mhuirí was co-opted into the council replacing Fine Gael’s Naoise O Muirí.

Aoibheann Mahon was co-opted replacing Fianna Fáil’s Tom Brabazon.

Ciarán Ó Meachair was co-opted replacing Sinn Féin’s Máire Devine.

Lesley Byrne was co-opted replacing Social Democrats Jen Cummins.

Tara Deacy former Social Democrats councillor was co-opted replacing Eoin Hayes, who was elected as a TD to Dáil Eireann but has since been suspended from the Social Democrats party last week.

Kevin Breen was co-opted to replace Independent Barry Heneghan.