Mayors in Northern Ireland
Encyclopedia
In Northern Ireland
, the office of Mayor
or Lord Mayor
had long been ceremonial posts, with little or no duties attached to it. The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
provides that one councillor shall be Chairman and one Vice Chairman. A council may under the legislation petition the Government for a charter, which has the effect of making a district council a borough council. A council with a charter is extended several ceremonial rights including the right to appoint councillors aldermen, the right of councillors to wear robes as well as the right to a borough Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
is a rare honour, even less frequently bestowed than city status; a Lord Provost also acts as Lord Lieutenant
of their city.
Currently, only Belfast
has a Lord Mayor.
, Naomi Long, has broken with tradition and appointed her husband as Lord Mayor's Consort, the first man to hold this position.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, the office of Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
or Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
had long been ceremonial posts, with little or no duties attached to it. The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 was an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland that constituted district councils to administer the twenty-six local government districts created by the Local Government Act 1971, and abolished the existing local authorities in Northern Ireland.-District...
provides that one councillor shall be Chairman and one Vice Chairman. A council may under the legislation petition the Government for a charter, which has the effect of making a district council a borough council. A council with a charter is extended several ceremonial rights including the right to appoint councillors aldermen, the right of councillors to wear robes as well as the right to a borough Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Lord Mayors
The right to appoint a Lord MayorLord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
is a rare honour, even less frequently bestowed than city status; a Lord Provost also acts as Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
of their city.
Currently, only Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
has a Lord Mayor.
Mayoresses and Lady Mayoresses
The wife of a male Mayor is called the Mayoress and accompanies him to civic functions. A female Mayor or an unmarried male one may appoint a female consort as Mayoress. The current Lord Mayor of BelfastLord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
, Naomi Long, has broken with tradition and appointed her husband as Lord Mayor's Consort, the first man to hold this position.
See also
- Local government in Northern IrelandLocal government in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes. In Northern Ireland local councils do not carry out the same range of functions as those in the rest of the United Kingdom, for example they have no responsibility for education, for road building or for housing...
- Lord Mayor of BelfastLord Mayor of BelfastThe Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
- Mayor of DerryMayor of DerryThe Mayor of Derry, legally the Mayor of Londonderry is an honorary position bestowed upon a Citizen of Derry in Northern Ireland, who is in practice a member of Derry City Council, chosen by his or her peers on the Council to serve a one year term. The Mayor is Chairman of the Council as well as...