Sinn Féin Councillor Ní Dhálaigh elected as Lord Mayor of Dublin

“I am especially proud to be the first Sinn Féin mayor for Dublin and I am very grateful for the support that made this possible. I know that for some it was a bit of a leap of faith and I acknowledge that.

“I am conscious that this position is a responsibility, not a privilege, and that it is my role to serve the people of this city, and my fellow councillors in an open, honest and transparent manner.”

Her election means that Sinn Féin will hold the mayoralty during the 1916 Rising centenary celebrations in Dublin.

“The Proclamation [of the Irish Republic] speaks to us today more urgently than ever,” she said.

“The Proclamation’s commitment to “equal rights and equal opportunities” for all our people has yet to be fulfilled. We do not yet live in an equal city, or an equal country.

“I would like our new motto as a city to be Cathair Chomhionannais – City of Equality.

“In line with this sentiment, my priority for the year to come will be those families who have been waiting years for housing, but also those who, once they get a house, find it is not a home, but a battleground, a place where they must fight every day for basic living conditions.

“I will also work for worker’s rights.

“The contempt and mistreatment of Dunnes Stores workers by their employers is offensive.

“The sudden closure of Clerys, and the treatment of the staff, is equally reprehensible.

“The laws that allow this to happen have no place in a modern day Ireland.

“During the coming year I also hope to encourage and integrate the use of the Irish language in daily Dublin life, to make our first language more visible and prominent in our first city.”

Councillor Ní Dhálaigh was first co-opted to the City Council on April 3, 2006 to represent the Crumlin-Kimmage Ward of the South Central City Electoral Area of the City Council.

She was re-elected in the Local Elections of 2009 and 2014.