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Blain told councillors that she wants to progress the sporting facilities in Dublin and keep women in clubs.

Fine Gael councillor Emma Blain elected as new Lord Mayor of Dublin

Blain will serve out the remainder of Fine Gael’s year-long term in the role.

FINE GAEL COUNCILLOR Emma Blain has been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Members of Dublin City Council appointed Blain to the role following the election of her predecessor and party colleague James Geoghegan to Dáil Éireann.

She will now serve out the remainder of Geoghegan’s year-long term after receiving support from the majority of her fellow councillors present at a special meeting this evening.

Speaking following the election, Blain thanked those who elected her as the 357th Lord Mayor of Dublin, her family and her colleagues in the chamber.

She committed to supporting the sporting facilities around Dublin city and pledged to assist clubs in encouraging women and girls to continue to play sports. She also outlined plans to keep older residents in mind when drafting plans for future development.

Accepting her role, she said: “Dublin is a wonderful city and in the last year we’ve had to take a long, hard look at ourselves. However, 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 this evening to have been given that honour and look forward to meeting our wonderful people from across this city,” Blain concluded.

Blain is a Fine Gael councillor representing the Pembroke local electoral area on Dublin City Council and was first elected in 2016 to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. She has also been a member of the European Committee of the Regions since 2020.

The Rathmines native was joined in the chamber by her father, Sydney, mother, Doherty, husband and two children this evening. She previously worked as journalist at the Sunday Independent, and is now the editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette.

Geoghegan, ahead of the election, was invited to address his former Dublin City Council colleagues where he thanked staff at the Mansion House on Dawson Street and addressed a number of issues such as crime, waste and immigration.

He welcomed the measures taken by the council so far, such as a ban on businesses leaving rubbish bags on the streets, the establishment of the Dublin city taskforce and new measures taken to care for immigrants who reside in the city.

“I don’t think I’ll ever have a job, for the rest of my life, that was as meaningful and also as impactful as being the Lord Mayor of Dublin,” he said, adding that he also enjoyed his time as a Dublin city councillor too.

He acknowledged that, though making a few mistakes at the beginning, he was proud of his five-and-a-half years in the chamber. Geoghegan said members, “of all parties and none”, worked well together in the chamber.

The Fine Gael TD, who was elected to Dublin Bay South at the end of last month, was thanked by members from all parties and independents – but was reminded not to “forget” about Dublin city.

Seven new members were co-opted onto the Council this evening following the general election last month. Fianna Fáil’s Aoibheann Mahon replaces Tom Brabazon while Fine Gael’s David Coffey and Clodagh Ní Mhurí replace Geoghegan and Naoise Ó Muirí.

Ciarán Ó Meachair was co-opted to Sinn Féin’s Máire Devine’s seat, Lesley Byrne and Tara Deacy replace Social Democrats’ Jen Cummins and Eoin Hayes (who has since been suspended from the party) and Kevin Breen replaced independent Barry Heneghan. 

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42 Comments
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    Mute Ned
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:06 PM

    Mayor, leave the Lord part out of it, leave the
    Lord stuff to the British I say.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:35 PM

    @Ned: yes, let’s give them back their language, roads, train lines, judicial system, parliamentary system, football, television, pantomines, Christmas traditions, parks and the county system they designed. Down with that sort of thing.

    66
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    Mute Mick Duvanny
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    Dec 18th 2024, 9:07 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: The judicial system isn’t great. Should’ve been changed years ago

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Dec 18th 2024, 10:45 PM

    @Mick Duvanny: The legal industry, which is well represented in the government, don’t want change. One of the conditions for the financial bail-out was reform of the legal system, the government reneged on that. The present system is extremely lucrative.

    16
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    Mute Ned
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    Dec 18th 2024, 11:14 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: if you say so lad but you might want to keep a few just in case?

    32
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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Dec 19th 2024, 7:39 AM

    @Ned: it is indeed the first priority for the “kip”…. come on ned

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    Mute Jim O'Sullivan
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    Dec 19th 2024, 7:57 AM

    @Dermot Blaine: \what an utterly forelock tugging comment Anyway, most of the items you cire were not English innovations—but then what do you expect from an Eastenders fan,

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    Mute Ned
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    Dec 19th 2024, 4:41 PM

    @H Woo: that’s a very strange question? We speak English these days,

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    Mute Jp Cleary
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:10 PM

    Why is this article up again…. seen it 3/4 days ago .

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    Mute Alan Power
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:13 PM

    @Jp Cleary: and you’ve seen it again!

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Dec 18th 2024, 10:47 PM

    @Jp Cleary: Maybe you weren’t paying attention!

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    Mute Michael Collins
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:24 PM

    What a surprise …

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    Mute Alan Power
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:30 PM

    @Michael Collins: no surprise, you are a stalker, with multiple trolling accounts Michele Caine lol

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:36 PM

    @Michael Collins: not a surprise, you commented on it yesterday

    14
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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Dec 18th 2024, 10:52 PM

    Should be an elected position, with real power!

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    Mute Dermot Lacey
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    Dec 19th 2024, 12:17 AM

    @Brian Hunt: It is an elected position.

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    Mute Dave O Neill
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    Dec 19th 2024, 11:06 AM

    @Dermot Lacey: Elected by who

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    Mute Dermot Lacey
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    Dec 19th 2024, 9:01 PM

    @Dave O Neill: by the same system that elects the Taoiseach. The elected ( by the people) members in the Chamber to which they were elected then elect the Lord Mayor.

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    Mute Cormac McKay
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    Dec 18th 2024, 10:42 PM

    Our 7th ceremonial powerless Mayor in Dublin City Council in 5 years

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:07 PM

    Congratulations Emma Blain, best of luck in your tenure.

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Dec 18th 2024, 9:24 PM

    @Frank Mc Carthy: last week you referred to the role as another snout in the trough. Frank the fraud. Frank the troll

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 18th 2024, 9:39 PM

    Hi brenny, those comments about that cinema in Galway were seriously vile….delighted you got deleted.

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    Mute Kevvy kerrr
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    Dec 18th 2024, 9:41 PM

    @Basildon Joe: just a heads up Joe. ..this one is one of brennys…… bren set up this one to stalk/ bully me

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    Mute Quinny
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    Dec 18th 2024, 11:05 PM

    Not on topic, but imagine trying to cross the sea for a better life and to drowned, men , women and children dieing while we eat our Christmas dinner soon and complain about things that don’t even matter. Life has little understanding no matter how old you become!!

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    Mute Alan Power
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:05 PM

    Good

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    Mute Alan Power
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:08 PM

    The thug who threw excrement at Ann Rabbitte should have been jailed for at least 10 years, what if it was a more sinister attack

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    Mute Freda Peeple
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:11 PM

    @Alan Power: If you had any chance of getting your hole things like this wouldn’t bother you at all. Can only imagine the horror your mother faces when she cleans your room

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    Mute Alan Power
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:15 PM

    @Freda Peeple: I share the same room with your ma, so make sure you do a bit of hoovering now and then

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    Mute Freda Peeple
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:21 PM

    @Alan Power: Haha we all know there is only room for you and palm in the box room.

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    Mute Alan Power
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:27 PM

    @Freda Peeple: aw, you OK, babby?

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    Mute Willie Marty
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:36 PM

    @Alan Power: a very decent man according to three respectable witnesses and the judge.

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    Mute honey badger
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:34 PM

    A ceremonial ‘pass the parcel’ between the parties. Personally, I’d rather see it have genuine executive powers. In the meantime, best of luck to her.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Dec 18th 2024, 8:43 PM

    @honey badger: maybe, but DCC is one of the most successful local authorities in the country, they do this largely by consensus, it’s not as partisan as national politics.

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    Mute Frank
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    Dec 18th 2024, 10:07 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: Still haven’t sorted the transport system though. No metro. For a city of that size, incredible.

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Dec 18th 2024, 10:51 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: Well, they’re big on Woke, but on infrastructure, they’re appalling!

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Dec 19th 2024, 7:42 AM

    @Frank: no, they’re not perfect by any means, but better than most

    3
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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Dec 18th 2024, 10:25 PM

    Pink profiling she will be back for next election – good luck to her but her party will use her up and take ideals out of her

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    Mute Alan Power
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    Dec 18th 2024, 11:46 PM

    The profanity towards this woman is off the scale, Sinead O’Carroll should be utterly ashamed of herself for allowing such vitriol to be vented, but of course, The Journal needs donations, no wonder, what a rag

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    Mute Trump24
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    Dec 19th 2024, 2:05 PM

    At least it’s another shinner kept out of power.

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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    Dec 20th 2024, 8:56 AM

    Elected? I think you mean appointed.

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    Mute John Moore
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    Dec 19th 2024, 6:33 PM

    Nice to be able to say you were the mayor but in reality it means very little. The term is a year max and role ceremonial. Obviously a directly elected mayor would be a different ball game but is being held back because a number of people don’t want to cede any kind of control even though it would benefit the city.

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    Mute Blaney Richard
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    Dec 19th 2024, 5:16 PM

    Good god a lot of blue shirts on here!!as usual,do you lads not work?oh probably in the party,that makes sense!!freaks

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