Dublin is a great city with a proud history. However, in recent years the city has become a difficult place in which to live and work. The cost of housing and the cost of living keeps increasing as more and more people are forced out of the city and into adjoining counties.

This trend must be turned around and Fine Gael (FG) wants the best for our city, according to our new Lord Mayor Councillor Catherine Byrne, who was born and raised in Inchicore. Before taking up residence in the Mansion House she lived on Bulfin Road with her husband Joe and their five children.

Councillor Byrne was first elected to Dublin City Council for the South West Inner City Ward on her first attempt in 1999. The same year she was the FG’s candidate for Dublin South Central in the by-election. In 2004 she topped the poll for FG in the local Elections.

She has been heavily involved with community and voluntary groups in the South West Inner City for over 25 years and was Chairperson of St. Michael’s Community centre. She was also a member of the Board of Management of the Mercy Convent Secondary School, Goldenbridge. She completed a course in Lay Ministry in All Hallows and also has a City and Guilds Diploma in Catering.

Since her election to the City Council, she has served on various committees including the Housing and Community Committee Strategic Policy Committee, Arts, Cultural, Leisure and Youth Affairs Strategic Policy Committee, St. Michael’s Estate Regeneration Board as well as Fatima Mansions Regeneration Board.

Over the years, she has been closely involved with providing social activities for teenagers, supporting older people and fundraising for local community projects. Catherine was leader of St. Michael’s Folk group for 15 years. The new Lord Mayor is an avid sports fan and played soccer at the highest level. She supports her local league of Ireland club, St Patrick’s Athletic and has managed schoolboy soccer in her locality.

On her recent visit to St Andrew’s Resource Centre in Pearse Street to open the South Docks Festival and be conferred with the Admiralty of the Port she was greeted by her cousin Joe Ryan from City Quay, who works with St Andrew’s Resource Centre. She informed us she was very familiar with the area as her sister-in-law lived in Ringsend and she had worked in a printing company in the area for many years.

Among Catherine’s priorities during her term in office are to continue her support for the various regeneration projects across the city, childcare issues within the communities, and supporting community projects. She will encourage civil leadership schemes especially among the young, and ensure that Dublin is a city where people can afford to live and raise their children.

Above: Lord Mayor of Dublin Catherine Byrne pictured with Jim Hargis at the St. Andrew’s Resource Centre in Pearse Street.