Dublin’s newly elected Lord Mayor has said she is “hugely proud and grateful” to take on her new role.
Fine Gael councillor Emma Blain was appointed as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin yesterday, succeeding her party colleague James Geoghegan who was elected to the Dáil.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Ms Blain outlined the areas she would like to focus on during her time in office.
“One of them [is] the participation of women and girls in sport – I think it’s a hugely important part of our communities,” she said.
“The clubs and societies we have around the city all do an immense amount of work in supporting our young people and mothers in participating in sport.”
Despite this work, Ms Blain said drop-out rates for girls in sport remain an “ongoing challenge” both in Ireland and around Europe.
“I really want to be able to do what I can to facilitate [clubs and societies] to keep girls who want to play sport in it.”
Dementia awareness
Another priority for the new Lord Mayor is dementia awareness in the city.
The new Lord Mayor said the issue is personal to her, “like so many other families”, as her own father has dementia.
“It’s a huge challenge for those who care for them and families around them.
“Navigating daily life can be a challenge for those who are caring for people but also living within communities, especially people who may be living on their own and who need that additional support.”
Office of the Lord Mayor
The office of Lord Mayor is not a political role, Ms Blain acknowledges, but it is a “hugely important role nonetheless”.
“As you know, I’m a Fine Gael councillor, I come from a Fine Gael family,” she said.
“I do remember as a child one of the proudest moments I had was going into the Mansion House and meeting the Fianna Fáil Lord Mayor Ben Briscoe.
“There was a picture framed on our mantelpiece of me meeting Ben Briscoe alongside one of me meeting Garrett Fitzgerald.
“It’s a role that transcends all politics.”
The Lord Mayor term runs for one year.
Feature image – Emma Blain, via Emma Blain and Lord Mayor of Dublin on Instagram
