Sinn Fein Man Is Youngest Belfast Mayor

Northern Ireland's capital city has a new civic leader, a 25-year-old Sinn Fein activist who was only recently elected as a new member of Belfast City Council.

Last night, Niall Ó Donnghaile became Belfast's youngest ever Lord Mayor as the city's councillors held their Annual General Meeting (AGM).

He was already a full time party activist, joining the party at the age of 16, and was Sinn Fein'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 last night's AGM in Belfast City Hall.

He becomes the city's third Sinn Fein 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.

(BMcC/GK)