Sinn Féin councillor becomes youngest ever Lord Mayor
Niall Ó Donnghaile has tonight become Belfast’s youngest ever Lord Mayor.
The 25-year-old Sinn Féin activist is a new member of Belfast City Council, having been elected as councillor for the Pottinger ward of east Belfast in the recent elections.
Before his election to council, Councillor Ó Donnghaile was already a full time party activist, joining the party at the age of 16, and was Sinn Féin’s press officer in the Stormont Assembly.
Educated through the Irish Medium sector, Councillor Ó Donnghaile is a politics graduate and fluent Irish speaker who actively campaigns on language rights and equality.
He was born and bred in the Short Strand area of the city where he is well known for his community work. He is a member of the Short Strand Partnership Board which lobbies for economic and social regeneration in east Belfast.
A GAA enthusiast, Councillor Ó Donnghaile is an avid support of the County Down football team.
Councillor Ó Donnghaile succeeds the SDLP’s Pat Convery who handed over the chain of office at tonight’s AGM in City Hall.
He becomes the city’s third Sinn Féin Lord Mayor, following in the footsteps of Alex Maskey in 2002 and Tom Hartley in 2008.
Councillor Ruth Patterson from the DUP was elected Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast.
For further information go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/lordmayor
