Sinn Féin councillor becomes one of Belfast’s youngest ever Lord Mayors

By Rebecca Black, PA

One of Belfast’s youngest Lord Mayors has been confirmed in the position.

Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy, 28, said it was a “huge honour” to take over the reins in Northern Ireland’s capital.

His party colleague Niall O Donnghaile was the city’s youngest ever First Citizen having taken on the position at the age of 25 in 2011.

Outgoing Lord Mayor Tina Black (Sinn Féin) placed the mayoral chain on Mr Murphy’s shoulders as she left the chair at City Hall on Monday evening.

Paying tribute to Ms Black, Mr Murphy said he had “big boots to fill”.

“I’m very much of the belief that showing positive political leadership, building reconciliation, respect and prosperity in this society is a collective responsibility,” he said.

“As First Citizen of Béal Feirste, I’ll grasp that huge opportunity to demonstrate that positive leadership

“We believe in the concept of Mayor for all. We believe that every citizen in this region has the right to have their voice heard, and their aspirations respected.

“I know that the incoming year will be very demanding. All I can say is I am 100 per cup for that job. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and getting the sleeves rolled up.

“Workers and families right across Belfast at the minute face many challenges and there’s a big job ahead of us in continuing the transformation of this great city of ours for the better.”

He added: “The commitment that I’m giving to the people of Belfast is that I will use this office to the very best of my ability to continue building on the fantastic work that Tina and others have done.

“I’ll continue to reach out that hand of friendship, I’ll continue to be a mayor for all.”

Aine Groogan (Green Party) was also confirmed as Deputy Lord Mayor at a meeting of the council at City Hall on Monday evening.

Ms Groogan is the first from her party to take on a mayoral position in Northern Ireland.

“I hope to do the whole green movement proud in the year ahead,” she said.

Sinn Féin reinforced its position as the largest party in the city council at the recent local government elections, where it won 22 out of 60 seats.

Next largest is the DUP with 14 councillors in Belfast, followed by the Alliance Party with 11, SDLP with five, the Green Party with three, Ulster Unionist Party with two, while People Before Profit and the TUV each have one and there is one independent councillor.

Meanwhile, Gerardine Mulvenna (Alliance) became the new Mayor of Mid and East Antrim and Stewart McDonald (TUV) the Deputy Mayor at a meeting of the council on Monday evening.

Ms Mulvenna previously served as mayor of the former Larne Borough Council in 2012.

“We have so much to be proud of in Mid and East Antrim and as Mayor I want us to be shouting from the rooftops when it comes to the many jewels in our crown,” she said.