Minutes:
Expressions of Thanks
The Lord Mayor reviewed her year in office, which she stated had been an incredible honour and that she had truly loved getting out and visiting communities across the City. She outlined that she had been privileged to be the first female Lord Mayor from the Democratic Unionist Party and that she had been so proud to represent her community. She highlighted that she been delighted to support her chosen charities, Little Heroes, South Belfast Alternatives, Tre-Eco and South Belfast Sure Start. She stated that particular highlights for her had included welcoming His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla to Belfast and to have been the First Citizen at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. She thanked the Deputy Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff, Council staff, her Party and her husband, family and friends for all of their support and wished the incoming Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor every success for the year ahead.
The Deputy Lord Mayor reflected on his year in office and paid tribute to the Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff, his wife and children and Council staff for the valuable assistance which they had provided. He stated that it had been one of the greatest honours of his life. His highlights had included welcoming the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, to Belfast and leading the Pride and Mela parades. He had been grateful to have worked with a number of important charities during his time in office, including the Children’s Hospice, Belfast City of Sanctuary and the People’s Kitchen. He wished the incoming Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor well in their forthcoming term of office.
Tributes
Installation of Lord Mayor
The Chief Executive reminded the Council that it had, earlier in the meeting, approved the Positions of Responsibility for 2026/2027 and that Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly had been nominated to serve as Lord Mayor.
Accordingly, Councillor R.M. Donnelly was installed in Office for the period to end on the date of the annual meeting of the Council in 2027.
Councillor R.M. Donnelly thanked her Political Party for nominating her to serve as Lord Mayor. She stated that she was honoured to be the first Irish-speaking, female Lord Mayor of Belfast. She highlighted that she wanted to put young people, diversity and language rights at the heart of everything that she would do throughout her year in office. She stated that she was particularly looking forward to welcoming the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to Belfast. She paid tribute to the previous Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor for the manner in which they had carried out their duties. She stated that she was looking forward to the year ahead and to working with the Deputy Lord Mayor and the High Sheriff.
(The Lord Mayor, Councillor R.M. Donnelly, in the Chair.)