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SINN FÉIN COUNCILLOR Mícheál Mac Donncha is the new Lord Mayor of Dublin city.
First co-opted onto the council in 2011, Mac Donncha was re-elected in 2014.
He has been a long-standing member of Sinn Féin, and was the editor of the party’s newspaper – An Phoblacht – from 1990 to 1996.
Mac Donncha ran unsuccessfully in the 2016 general election for the Dublin Bay North constituency.
He is a fluent Irish speaker and a founding member of the council’s Moore Street Advisory Committee.
He is also a board member on the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, the Board of the Hugh Lane Gallery and of the National Maternity Hospital.
Mac Donncha was elected this evening at the council’s annual meeting with 35 votes. He is the 348th Lord Mayor of Dublin. The Labour Party’s Aine Clancy was elected as deputy-Lord Mayor.
Speaking after his election this evening, the new Lord Mayor thanked his fellow councillors and laid out his intentions for the office.
He said the focus of his term would be to try to work towards resolving the housing crisis in Dublin.
He said his first act as mayor would be requesting a meeting with Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy as a matter of urgency.
He said he believed the council should focus on “building more council houses on council” land, and called on the national government to release funding to this end.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams congratulated Mac Donncha on his election.
“Cllr Mícheál Mac Donncha is an outstanding public representative, a committed Irish republican, and a proud Dubliner with a deep love of our capital city,” he said.
Mac Donncha takes over the title of Lord Mayor from the Labour Party’s Brendan Carr.
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Blessed are the peacemakers. Rest in peace.
Very sad day, he did monumental work on the peace process in Northern Ireland. Genuine and decent man.
A true man of peace. May he now rest in peace.
The absolute soundest politician this country ever produced. A true Gentleman who epitomised kindness.
RIP , the man who brought peace to our island
A man that knew nothing but friendship and peace and love. We should all be grateful.
Probably one of the greatest men to ever stand on this planet. Rest In Peace.
A once in a lifetime politican.
Peace be with you John Hume
The phrase never has so much been owed by so many to so few comes to mind!
Rest in peace John.
Deeply sadden to hear John Hume has died. One of Ireland’s greatest politicians and unbelievable peacemaker.
A great ambassador who held the pieces together in getting the peace process to what a success it is today. RIP John. A legend he was.
He risked his career by talking to the provost to bring about the peace when many deserted him, a great man.
Extraordinary Derryman. A voice of reason in the madness. Huge figure in our History
A fine man who made an immeasurable contribution to the peace we have on this island today, may he rest peacefully
RIP John Hume. You were a good man.
What a great man he was… did ye have to bring Bono into it?
@Lucille Ball: Whatever you think about Bono, he has contributed a lot to the world in a lot of ways
A truly great person..rip
Rip John. Well deserved. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
A man who entered politics to make a genuine, lasting and positive difference to his community. A very rare thing.
If a land could weep, this island would shed one huge teardrop today! A visionary of peace and hope and respect.. What a legacy. Rest in the peace you helped create
The single biggest contributor to the Irish peace process. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Irelands loss today, brilliant man, we need many more with his straight leadership qualities in our government
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