Welcoming the New Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain

14th January 2025

Posted In: Be In The Frame

Taoiseach Simon Harris today welcomed the new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Emma Blain, to Government Buildings to discuss a wide range of issues relating to her new role.

Discussions at the meeting were focused on key priorities for Dublin including the Dublin City Taskforce Report, which made a number of recommendations to rejuvenate the capital’s city centre and make it a more attractive and safer place, to live, work and visit. An interdepartmental group has been convened by the Department of the Taoiseach to examine the Dublin City Taskforce’s recommendations and to prepare a high-level roadmap for delivery setting out how the recommendations are to be taken forward.

The Taoiseach and Lord Mayor also discussed the continued need for investment in social and affordable housing in the Dublin area.

Speaking after the meeting, the Taoiseach said: “Today’s meeting afforded an opportunity to officially welcome the Lord Mayor into the new role and we had a constructive engagement on some of her key priority areas for Dublin.

“The Dublin City Taskforce Report, which I launched back in October, is a critical report and one which requires dedicated resources to ensure its recommendations are delivered in an efficient fashion. I look forward to further engagement with the Lord Mayor in this regard.”

About the new Lord Mayor

Lord Mayor Emma Blain is a Fine Gael councillor representing the Pembroke local electoral area on Dublin City Council. She has been an elected representative since 2016 and served as a councillor on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council until being elected to Dublin City Council in June 2024.

Lord Mayor Blain values the participation and promotion of sport within communities, particularly for women and girls. She is also actively engaged in positive ageing planning, care for the elderly within communities and dementia awareness.

During her term as Lord Mayor, she will prioritise these areas alongside the positive promotion of Dublin City as the richly cultured, inviting and vibrant capital city that it is.

Lord Mayor Blain has been an Irish delegate to the European Committee of the Regions since 2020.

She grew up in Rathmines, where her father Sydney was the Principal of the Church of Ireland College of Education. She has two children, Hunter (10) and Tilly (9). After graduating with an MA in Politics from UCD, Emma worked as a journalist with the Sunday Independent, and is now the editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette.

Emma Blain was elected 357th Lord Mayor of Dublin in mid-December.  She is the 12th Mayor to hold the position and said on the occasion:

“Last night, I was given the greatest honour that any Dubliner can have, to be elected its first citizen. I am enormously proud to have been given that honour, and look forward to meeting our wonderful people across the city.

While we need to continue to address and resolve the very real challenges that exist, I want us to rediscover and be reminded of what is so special about this city, to make 2025 the year in which we learn to love, and be proud of our great city again.

That is my pledge to Dublin.”

Pictured: Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain with Taoiseach Simon Harris