Lord Mayor's blog (archive)

Each week, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, provides an insight into his role and duties as mayor. You'll find older posts from his blog here. The entries are categorised by date:

Investment Package Launch

Lord Mayor, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile at the launch of the investment package 6 February

It was really great to be involved in the launch of Belfast City Council`s exciting new investment package this week.

I felt proud to stand alongside the council's party group leaders to greet the First and Deputy First Ministers at Belfast's Waterfront where our ambitious plans were unveiled. Their presence - along with those representing the private sector - is absolute proof of how successful partnership working can be in producing real benefits for our local communities.

This new investment package - aimed at boosting the local economy - has already been hailed by experts for its "can do" pro-active agenda to market Belfast globally.

Through this initiative we will not only address the economic downturn, but will also be in a position to lever money in from other sources and so ensure value for money in what we do. Summed up, this is a win-win situation for local ratepayers.

Key aims of the three-year initiative are to support businesses, create employment opportunities, grow the local economy and provide economic infrastructure to ensure future competitiveness. Plans for a Waterfront conference facility are among the highlights of capital investment. This £20 million extension to the iconic Belfast Waterfront will target the lucrative business tourism market.

By showing great leadership, Belfast City Council has made its biggest single demonstration of our unity and commitment to serve the people of Belfast in the most effective and efficient way. I am proud to be Mayor at such a significant time in our city's history.

Young People's Awards 2012

Jim Eastwood with the Lord Mayor 13 January 2012

Like many of you, I'm sure, I enjoy tuning in to BBC1's The Apprentice so when I was told I was doing a photocall with 'Jedi' Jim Eastwood, I thought I'd bring along a light sabre to make him feel at home!

Jim was at City Hall to help launch the council's annual search for outstanding teenagers who are making positive contributions in communities across Belfast. It's my belief that young people play a vital role in our society but so often it can be difficult for them to make their voices heard, and some of that positive work they're involved in can be lost amid negative headlines.

These awards are a fantastic opportunity not only to reward young people for the work they're doing but to show our appreciation and shine the spotlight on them for a change. This is the fifth year of the awards that have come to be known as the 'Youth Oscars' and I think that's quite fitting because without a doubt, these young people are the stars of the future.

If you know anyone under the age of 21 who is determined to make a difference and is involved in community initiatives in your area, why not nominate them for an award?

There are five different categories and full details can be found on the council's website www.belfastcity.gov.uk.ypa

Let's help encourage our young people and generate some positive news stories!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Belfast!

Snow Patrol on stage outside City Hall during MTV EMA 21 December 2011

It is one of the most iconic images of 2011 - and that's why I decided to use it as the front image of my official Christmas card.

Local photographer Brian Thompson's photograph of the crowds gathered in front of City Hall to watch Snow Patrol perfectly captures the 'feel good mood' of that memorable weekend when MTV came to town.

Everyone across Belfast and beyond was swept up on the positive vibes that surrounded the MTV events here. It was quite a weekend, and set the tone for what will hopefully be an exciting year ahead. Now, as we move into 2012, we have the impetus to all pull together to ensure that Belfast's success story continues. As a city we have proved our worth on a world stage and can look forward to many exciting events in 2012 with optimism and confidence.

I am delighted too that early next year Belfast City Council will be unveiling an Investment Programme whch will set out a range of initiatives to ensure commitment to our economic growth. I am very well aware that issues such as jobs and incomes are what matter most to our citizens. Our pledge, through this exciting investment, is that we will build on Belfast's many strengths in order to meet the challenges ahead.

Throughout my term in office I have been inspired by seeing so many of our citizens making a positive impact on the lives of local people. Meeting them brings home the true message of this season of goodwill. I hope that all residents of Belfast, as well as visitors to our wonderful city, achieve everything they wish for in the year ahead.

I wish everyone a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year.

City Hall welcomes Inter-Faith Forum

13 December 2011

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, A recent reception I hosted in City Hall to mark Human Rights Day reminded me of just how multi cultural a society we are now in Belfast. I was delighted to welcome members of the Inter-Faith Forum into my Parlour and to acknowledge the wide range of faith communities represented. I also paid tribute to the important contribution faith communities make in promoting human rights across the world.

It was a real privilege to share readings from Bahá'í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim scriptures.

All of us who attended were interested to hear the views of the Chairman of the Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Justin Kouame, that it is the role of faith communities to bring people together. Professor Michael O’Flaherty, Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission, added that the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was only possible because of the legacy of the many great religious traditions of the world.

Throughout my term in office I have made many visits to churches of all denominations across Belfast and have always been made to feel welcome. Those engagements have been very significant meaning to me, particularly in promoting the message of a shared future.

Belfast named top international destination for 2012!

25 November 2011

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, launches Tall Ships 2015 We already know that Belfast is "a treasure" but now that's the description of our city being published by National Geographic's Traveler magazine.

The international endorsement, which places Belfast as one of the world's top destinations for 2012, shows that we really are on the map.

Add to that the fact that Financial Times has listed Belfast as one of the Top 10 places in the world to hold a conference or major event and Trip Advisor lists us as the best value city break, and it seems that we are definitely on the up!

News of these accolades provided an incredible backdrop for my announcement – on behalf of the council – that the Tall Ships will be returning here in 2015.

This will provide us with yet another chance to be showcased again to a global audience, and it speaks volumes that this event is returning to a host city so quickly.

I was delighted to reveal that Belfast will have the kudos of being the starting point of race that will see Belfast linked to Norway and Denmark in just under three years' time.

We all remember how hugely popular this event was when it attracted 800,000 visitors in just four days back in 2009. Who can forget the incredible scenes of 250,000 people lining the shores of Belfast Lough to watch the spectacle?

The anticipated economic boost will be welcome too. Back in 2009, the benefit to the local economy was an estimated £16 million.

I was so proud to officially announce the return of the Tall Ships, not least because it is a very real endorsement of Belfast's ability - now globally recognised -– to deliver world-class events.

A big weekend for Belfast!

18 November 2011

Lord Mayor welcomes Taoiseach The weekend has got off to a great start here at City Hall with the visit this morning by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD.

It was an honour to welcome Mr Kenny and show him around our beautiful landmark building in the heart of the city.

An Taoiseach took time to sign our Visitors' Book and to look at the various statues and stained glass windows that are part of the rich history of City Hall.

We also discussed how we hope to continue to the work of making our City Hall a space that is truly reflective of history and of our people. The council's party group leaders also joined us for part of the tour as we moved through the Council chamber.

Today's visit will doubtless be one of the many highlights of 2011 for me.

Tonight I will be endeavouring to be well rested in readiness for tomorrow evening's Christmas lights switch-on - yes, folks, the festive season will now be officially starting!

Billed as a fun night for all the family, I hope that the young at heart of all ages will join me at the front of City Hall for some great entertainment and the spectacle of the tree in all its glory. Of course, the Continental Market will also be open so the buzz around the city centre should be fantastic.

Justin Fletcher, the star of TV's Justin's House, is cearly a big favourite with youngsters across Belfast and I am already hearing that parents are being bombarded with requests to make sure the kids are down to City Hall for Justin's appearance.

All is shaping up well for a memorable weekend. Bring it on!

Let's turn Belfast's moment into momentum

9 November 2011

City Hall MTV EMA concert Oh what a night! Yes, Sunday's MTV EMAs provided a night which Belfast will long remember. And now we must turn Belfast's moment into unstoppable momentum.

My sincere hope is that this is just the beginning of the party, not the end - with more announcements to come of major events coming to the city in the weeks ahead.

The people of Belfast are more united now than ever before in their desire to ensure we build on the unprecedented events of the past few days. And the media has played its part in building the positive image of the city - and it's not often a politician says things like that!

I spoke to the top brass at MTV and its parent company Viacom and they all commented on the 'can do' attitude of the people and all the local organisations and companies who contributed to ensuring the EMAs were such a success.

CEOs from major global companies were blown away by the vibe and the atmosphere in the city, and many I spoke to were genuinely amazed at how different the reality was from any previous perceptions. We are now on the world map.

Our well worn everyday phrase of 'no problem' has never been more appropriate. The MTV executives said that no matter what they asked for they got that same response whether it was from the council, Tourist Board, the 90 local companies they deployed or the local people they directly employed on the day to day work on the production.

MTV are already coming back next year for a major concert on the slipways near to the iconic new Titanic Belfast building and they said to me they want to maintain the links with Belfast and build on the success of the past few days - it was their most successful EMAs ever.

I have seen up close how hard council employees have worked night and day to bring the event to the city and then to ensure it was the success that it was - and I know that effort was repeated in the Tourist Board, the Belfast Welcome Centre and all the public and private sector organisations involved.

The immediate effect of the awards is reflected in the fact that early indications from Belfast Welcome Centre are that it had almost a 40 per cent increase in footfall and 20 per cent increase in telephone enquires compared to the same period last year.

On our own website, there were more than 250,000 page visits, nearly 50,000 views of our Flickr - and the number of followers on our Facebook site has virtually doubled since August, now standing at more than 7,000 followers.

It is just the start as we have the Christmas lights switch-on and the hugely popular Continental Market coming up in the next couple of weeks. Then next year, we have the opening of Titanic Belfast and the accompanying series of major events throughout 2012, while it was announced yesterday that the Olympic flame is coming to Belfast on the 3rd and 6th June – the only city it will visit twice outside of London.

In 2013, we`ve got the World Police and Fire Games, which is second only in size to the Olympics – and there is more to come too.

It has been the most exciting time for the city in my lifetime, and the amazing thing is that it's only going to get better!

Belfast welcomes MTV!

MTV EMA winners Belfast is in full party mode as our city gears up to host the MTV EMA on Sunday.

Triple A-listers will be jetting in from across the globe to attend this star studded awards ceremony - and I feel really proud that Belfast is throwing down the welcome mat to so many visitors.

This is our chance to shine with footage being beamed to an audience of 600 million across the world. What an amazing opportunity for us to put our wee part of the world under a global spotlight.

I am confident that all who visit us will be impressed by out world class facilities and the warmth of our hospitality.

Belfast will definitely be THE place to be this weekend, and in the days between now and then too - with a host of exciting events running throughout Belfast Music Week.

So, just one thing remains to be said: let's party!

Hallowe'en Fun in Belfast

As homes across the country are getting organised to celebrate Hallowe’en, I’m delighted that events in Belfast are in place to ensure a fun packed weekend.

Our 2011 ‘Metro Monster Mash’ will take place at the Odyssey this Sunday starting at 2pm with lots of activities including street theatre, wacky workshops, face-painting and breath-taking fire shows. Star acts on stage will include Stavros Flatley and popular girl band, Parade. And, if families aren’t too exhausted by all of that, there’s a fireworks display to round the day off too.

A shuttle bus service will leave Chichester Street for Queen`s Quay, dropping off at the Station Street flyover, between 2pm – 5.30pm. Return shuttle buses will operate from Queen`s Quay to City Hall from 6pm – 7pm.

Hallowe’en celebrations are now firmly placed as one of the highlights of our events calendar in Belfast – real family fun that’s free-of-charge for all to enjoy! The 2pm start of the event is good for everyone - families can enjoy a fun-filled day out and get the kids to bed at a normal time while the 6pm finish will no doubt mark the beginning of the evening for others wanting to go on to other Hallowe`en parties elsewhere in the city.

Belfast Zoo will also be hosting a special day on Saturday, 29 October with lots of themed events including bat talks, a reptile display, face painting, creepy crafts, spooky storytelling and a pumpkin carving competition. Normal Zoo admission charges will apply, but children aged 18 and under get in free if they come in fancy dress. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Further details, including details of bus routes to and from the Zoo, are available at www.belfastzoo.co.uk.

Belfast Waterfront gets in on the act too with a screening of the The Addams Family on Monday 31 October where you can see the spooky classic on a big, big screen! For further information, contact Belfast Waterfront on 028 9033 4455 or go to www.waterfront.co.uk.

Lots happening, folks, so be sure to get out there and enjoy! All this and MTV EMA next weekend – what a buzz there is in our city these days!

Belfast's time to shine

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, with MTV presenter, Palina Rojinski Date: 10 October 2011

It was all in a day's work as Mayor – but, hey, somebody had to do it!

Filming radio and television ads for MTV with glamorous presenter, Palina Rojinski, knocked hours out of my schedule of engagements but it was all worth it to promote Belfast to an international audience.

Excitement is really building for our city hosting the MTV EMA next month and it was obvious when I met the MTV crew that journalists and music industry professionals are really enthusiastic about visiting here.

I am really conscious of our need to roll out the red carpet – not just for the triple A list stars - but for everyone who is visiting Belfast from all parts of the globe.

I know that people in all parts of our city will make our visitors welcome. Our reputation as being a warm and hospitable place is sure to be given its greatest ever endorsement.

This really is Belfast's time to shine!

Having fun at every age

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, with President Mary McAleese and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese Date: 3 October 2011

This week I went along to 'Try It' sports event at Andersonstown Leisure Centre - it is one of a number we are running to promote interest in the 2012 London Olympics.

The older people were encouraged to try some of the sports that will be part of the games. It was great fun. I had a go at bowling but the best craic was in the tea dance. I had so many offers to whirl around the floor we eventually did a line dance as it was the easiest way to get involved.

The three ladies who organise this regular bit of fun at Andersonstown, have been doing it for four and a half years and it offers great exercise interspersed with a bit of chat and a cup of tea. Who could ask for more?

Then a couple of days later I got to meet little ones and their parents at the offical opening of the Suffolk Community Centre and its new open play space. This scheme was drawn together by the local community, council staff and Groundwork NI and it is fantastic.

The children now have a sandpit, outdoor musical intruments, can ride bikes and climb- all in a safe environment. It was a great way to use land that was really going to waste. Congratulations to everyone involved!

Fun is good at every age - we need our friends, family and a bit of craic to keep us going.

Welcoming President McAleese to Belfast City Hall

Date: 19 September 2011

It was a real honour to welcome Mary McAleese to City Hall yesterday afternoon – and mark her last official engagement to her native city before she steps down from her role as President of Ireland..

I was delighted that the President took time out from her busy schedule to spend time with myself and other councillors I had invited to come along to the Mayor’s parlour.

As First Citizen, I felt it was important to show gratitude on behalf of our city for the incredible work the President has done throughout her term in office. She has shown great leadership and has been inspirational in reaching out to people in all parts of Ireland and beyond.

The theme of her presidency was "building bridges", and that was undoubtedly achieved many times over through her dedication and commitment to her role.

I felt proud that I was able to pass on the thanks and respect of the residents of Belfast in the simple gesture of welcoming her through the doors of City Hall. I am sure she knows that those same doors will always be open to her in the future.

9/11 commemoration ceremony

Date: 9 September 2011

This weekend will mark a poignant time in international history – as the world stops to commemorate the 9/11 atrocity which changed so many lives 10 years ago.

It is therefore of special significance that we here in Belfast are taking part in a special ceremony on the front lawn of City Hall acknowledging those who died and paying our respects to their relatives.

I felt it was important that the citizens of Belfast should come together to show their support to our friends in New York and across the United States who were so deeply affected by the tragic events of that awful day.

By hosting this ceremony I hope to underpin the good relationship that exists between our two countries. Even though an ocean may divide us, we are united in our grief and our resolve to move forward.

Together we will observe a one-minute silence at 1.46pm (8.46am in New York), marking the exact time of the American Airlines Flight 11 crashing into the World Trade Center's North Tower in Manhattan.

Flowers will be laid at the commemorative stone already in place on the lawn at City Hall and a choral tribute will be performed by the Belfast Community Gospel Choir. The Big Screen will also show BBC coverage live in New York.

A special touch will be poetry read by twins, Eoin and Ciaran Trainor, who were born in Belfast on the actual day of the tragedy. Their participation yet another symbol of our hopes for the future.

As well as members of the public, the US Consul General Kamala Lakhdhir, representatives of the emergency services and representatives of various faith and ethnic groups will be among those attending.

Showcasing Belfast in the Big Apple

Date: 5 September 2011

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile visits the New York Stock Exchange It isn't often that Manhattan is like a ghost town but my recent visit there coincided with the city of New York battening down the hatches for the arrival of Hurricane Irene.

Although there was some panic and a degree of disruption, thankfully, I was able to fulfil much of my role in being there to promote the World Police and Fire Games coming to Belfast in 2013.

It was a great opportunity for me to meet with those who will be most influential in encouraging visitors from all parts of the world to arrive here when the sporting event comes in two years' time.

This included the Irish Consul General in New York, Noel Kilkenny, City Comptroller John Liu and Jeff Eubank who is Deputy President of Global Affairs at the New York Stock Exchange, all of whom were extremely excited by the many business and tourism opportunities Belfast has to offer.

I was proud to boast about all that our city has to offer tourists. By hosting what is one of the largest global sporting events, this is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience our first-class facilities, venues and our world renowned welcome!

I also took the opportunity to meet with President of MTV International Networks, Bob Bakish - what was clear from our meeting was that MTV can't wait to come to Belfast and view us as the vibrant cultural and musical hub that we are.

Importantly for our ratepayers, the economic benefits for Belfast will be enormous as result of these events and more. With the international spotlight shining on us, this event has the potential to do wonders for our tourism industry, not just here but right across the Island.

We can all look forward to rolling out the welcome mat for the estimated 25,000 people who will come here to attend the Games in 2013 and the many more set to visit 'destination Belfast'.

Lord Mayor supports the City Centre Beat initiative

Date: 18 August 2011

Lord Mayor Councillor Niall Ó Donnaghaile, Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay and High Black, vice president of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce at the signing of the at the signing of the Belfast City Centre Beat Scheme. We can all bear testament to the changes in Belfast in recent years that have pushed it to the top of tourists' must-see destinations.

With a vibrant and growing arts scene that any city would be proud of, hundreds of restaurants and shops that include high street favourites to major chains and bespoke boutiques, Belfast is a city that is deservedly on the map.

Through its tourism and economic strategies, Belfast City Council works in partnership with businesses and the wider community to ensure ours is an attractive city - not just for tourists, but for those who live and work here.

An important part of any city centre is its traders and this week I was delighted to see Belfast City Centre Management mark the seventh year of its City Centre Beat initiative, and I was there to give it council's full support. Our traders do a fantastic job, even in difficult economic times, and deserve full credit for all that they do. Any initiative that involves us all pulling together for the collective good gets a big thumbs up for me.

This hugely successful scheme continues to be a valuable asset for traders thanks to the commitment of the PSNI who provide two police officers dedicated to addressing quality of life issues for city centre businesses.

The initiative is credited with helping to tackle problem issues such as illegal street trading, vandalism, on-street drinking, and even to improving traffic management in and around the city, thanks to the Beat officers working closely with Translink and the DRD.

The City Centre Beat team also works closely with Belfast City Council and is a great example of just how important joint-working is when it comes to creating a vibrant and attractive city.

I applaud this scheme for helping to boost public confidence by reassuring shoppers and tourists that they are visiting a 'Safer Belfast'.

Lord Mayor celebrates the success of our parks

Date: 8 August 2011

Lord Mayor Councillor Niall Ó Donnaghaile celebrates the Green Flag awards. It is that time of year when we are out and about a lot taking advantage of the longer evenings and better weather. Hopefully you have been making the most of your local park.

Seven of our parks and open spaces have recently won the prestigious Green Flag Award, and I have been visiting a number of them to congratulate the staff and community which helped achieve it

Community involvement is an important marker for these awards, although of course they also examine the environment, management and attractiveness of the parks and open spaces. If the community isn't using it, the park isn't an asset.

We worked hard and are continuing to work with local communities to improve these wonderful assets in our midst - just as we are working to improve all our services.

We regularly benchmark our services against other public organisations and for that reason I was delighted to hear that Belfast City Council has reached the finals of the Association for Public Service Excellence awards.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for success when the winners are officially announced next month.

Lord Mayor enjoys carnival parades across Belfast

Date: 1 August 2011

Lord Mayor Councillor Niall Ó Donnaghaile at Belfast Pride. Yet another hectic weekend – but one which was enjoyable as it was busy!

On Saturday our city centre was packed with onlookers and participants in the colourful spectacle of the Belfast Pride parade. I was delighted to be there to offer my support.

I was also happy to welcome such a clear endorsement of the diversity of Belfast’s thriving arts and culture scene. This event reflects the progress being made to ensure our city is a shared space that is inclusive of all sections of the community.

Later in the afternoon I was among the thousands who were basking in glorious sunshine at Stormont Estate for the European Pipe Band Championships.

Piping cuts across all traditions and has a massive following here in Ireland and around the world. It was a wonderful experience to listen to the various accents all enjoying this event. The standard of music was exceptional and a great day out was had by all.

Carnival parades were definitely a recurring theme of my weekend when I led the revellers at the official opening day for Feile an Phobail on Sunday. What encouraged me most was to see so many groups involved - and from all parts of Belfast too.

Celebrating the laughter of our children is a really apt theme given all the smiling faces of youngsters involved.

Feile an Phobail is an outstanding success and continues to go from strength to strength, especially in terms of reaching out to all communities.

Outdoor events for everyone this summer

Date: 22 July 2011

Lord Mayor Councillor Niall Ó Donnaghaile riding the rodeo bull at Party in the Park. Riding the rodeo bull is probably one of the most unusual things I have been asked to do so far in my role as Mayor, but I should point out that the bull in question was of the funfair variety!

It was one of the highlights of my visit to Party in the Park, part of our summer programme for young people across Belfast.

The craic was great as I met with hundreds of young people who were having a fantastic time at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park.

It was great to see them all enjoying everything from Bollywood dancing to cheerleading workshops, waterslides, and even nail and henna art. I managed to avoid the slippery water slide and I swerved the nail and body art too, I am pleased to report!

Actually, I came away from the park feeling really positive about the message the young people I met there were conveying. Youth is definitely no barrier to making a vital contribution to all that is good about our city.

Another of my engagements also left me feeling really inspired by the people surrounding me. I was delighted to meet local athletes who will be competing in the 2011 Westfield Health British Transplant Games and support their call for people to become organ donors.

Giving the 'give the gift of life' is very poignant and, as someone who has already signed up to the Organ Donor Register, I feel privileged to support such a worthy cause.

The Games will be hosted in Belfast next month and I look forward to welcoming the athletes, their families and supporters.

MV Marina docks in Belfast

Date:15 July 2011

Lord Mayor Councillor Niall Ó Donnaghaile test out the Bridges Urban Sports Park. Not many people can claim to have stood on the top deck of a luxury liner and interrupted a game of golf putting - but all in the cause of promoting our tourism!

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of presenting Captain Dimitrios Flokos with a plaque from the city of Belfast as the MV Marina docked in Belfast for the first time. The cruise liner, which was launched just three months ago, brought more than 2,000 passengers and crew to our city.

During my tour of this fantastic vessel I met some passengers who were playing a game of putting on one of the upper decks. I bantered with them about our fabulous golf courses and the kudos of our sporting talent here. After all, if our courses are good enough for the likes of McIlroy and McDowell then the deck of a ship, however luxurious, should be abandoned in favour of what we can provide on dry land!

I was also able to meet and chat with many of those who did manage to make it onto shore and was pleased to hear their experience of our city as a welcoming and attractive destination. I was genuinely pleased to be able to act as an ambassador, although the truth is that it is an easy sell when you are so passionate about somewhere as special as Belfast.

Tourism continues to be a vital part of our economy and we are proud to be a place where our history and future blend well. By supporting the development of tourism throughout my term in office, I am hopeful of the contribution it can make towards job creation and investment.

I am proud to report that as part of the Cruise Belfast Initiative, we will welcome 33 cruise ships this year. That means more than 58,000 passengers and crew stepping onto our streets, which will generate an estimated £13 million for the local economy. And, better still, the figure is set to rise next year again when 38 ships are scheduled to visit.

The Cruise Belfast Initiative is a partnership between the Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau and Belfast Harbour with support from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Bridges Urban Sports Park

Date:11 July 2011

Lord Mayor Councillor Niall Ó Donnaghaile test out the Bridges Urban Sports Park. It isn't every day that I get to ride a BMX in my role as Belfast's Mayor but it was great craic to get behind the wheels of the bike and celebrate the opening of the new Bridges Urban Sports Park.

The half-a-million pounds facility at Little Patrick Street under the M3 flyover is a world class facility that is sure to be a big hit with young people from all parts of the city.

Urban sports fans are clearly excited about this iconic addition to the Belfast's landscape and, from what I saw of their breathtaking skateboarding and freestyle biking excellence, they will make great use of this venue.

Funded by the European Union Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace III) and Belfast City Council, 'Bridges' has created a shared and safe place where people of all ages and abilities can participate.

The project's partners include Belfast Urban Sports and all have worked tirelessly over the last six years to make this facility a reality. From speaking to many of its users and seeing for myself how great an asset this park will be, I congratulate everyone for their efforts.

Working towards a better Belfast

Date: 7 July 2011

Lord Mayor Councillor Niall Ó Donnaghaile meets President Mary McAleese. The last 10 days could probably best be described as challenging. It started with lack of sleep and feelings of despair. But thankfully it has ended on highs rather than lows with plenty to feel optimistic about.

On Tuesday I felt honoured to welcome the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, to our city and to share with her in her heartfelt hopes that Belfast is emerging as a shared space where good neighbours can exist side by side.

Despite the disturbing scenes of rioting in East Belfast – including streets close to my own home in Short Strand – this week's visit provided the opportunity for a well timed message about the absolute necessity for engagement and positive community leadership.

The cost of problems at this interface last week is immense – not just in terms of damage to homes and property but also with regard to the impact on the everyday lives of those who live there. Add to that the negative images that were beamed around the world, and the sense of despair is overwhelming.

But, with typical Belfast determination, we are all working together to emerge from this with optimism and hope about where we go from here.

During the usual round of busy engagements I have been attending as Mayor, I am witnessing so many positive things happening across the city – and many of them involving young people who are making a vital contribution to making this a place to be proud of.

Belfast has many good citizens who are working for positive change and who ARE making a real difference. We should not lose sight of that.

Lord Mayor's Parade

Lord Mayor Councillor Niall Ó Donnaghaile is given lessons in Karate by Alex and Mark Norris. Date: 20 June 2011

The sun shone down on Saturday for a fantastic day in Belfast when I was joined by hundreds of participants and onlookers for a parade making its way through the city centre. The colourful celebration of inclusion and diversity involved groups from all parts of the city - and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support.

This parade highlighted all that is good and great about Belfast. Taking the theme 'One World, One Vision, One Future' was very apt and completely in step with my desire for cohesion and a move towards a more inclusive, multi-cultural and forward-thinking Belfast.

Our city is certainly a place to be proud of; it is not only an amazing place in which to live, work and play but also a thriving hub of immense investment and tourism opportunities. Belfast has seen much change in recent years – change for the better I am pleased to add – and I wish to drive positive progress in all aspects and areas.

Young people in politics

Date: 16 June 2011

Much has been made of me being the youngest ever Mayor in Belfast and I am delighted that I have been able to attend many youth related events during my first weeks in office.

Already I have visited a number of schools, have hosted visits from students, attended youth exhibitions, dance events and am looking forward to meeting hundreds of young people at my Parade through this city this weekend.

Today I am a guest at a conference organized by Youth Action on the subject of The Youth Worker and Democracy.

This is a great opportunity for me to pay tribute to the dedication of youth workers across the city. By becoming the youngest ever First Citizen (at the age of 25) I hope my role will inspire other young people to feel they have a vital part to play in their community.

I would certainly encourage youth workers to motivate all young people to become actively involved in politics. This will help to create better awareness of the positive impact and difference their actions can make.

All of us can contribute to decision making and being pro-active in improving our city. Youth should be no barrier to this. Hopefully I am proof of what can be achieved, whatever your age.

The year ahead

Finbarr O Driscoll, Mayor of Cobh (formerly Queenstown), Councillor Terry Matthews, Mayor of Southampton, Wendy Simon, Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism, Liverpool City Council, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile and M Bernaud Cauvin, Vice-President of Le Communauté Urbaine de Cherbourg. Date: 6 June 2011

This has undoubtedly been one of the most memorable weeks of my life. And, it is my sincere hope that in 12 months time I will be looking back on the positive impact I made on the life of Belfast.

Young in years as I may be, my desire is to leave a lasting legacy following my year in office. And what a year this looks sure to be! The eyes of the world will be on Belfast for the remainder of 2011 and into 2012.

We have an unprecedented opportunity to shine on a world stage thanks to major events such as the MTV European Music Awards, the hosting of the Transplant Games, the opening of the MAC, the visit of the Olympic torch and the opening of the showcase Titanic Belfast building as well as a host of events relating to the commemoration of the Titanic.

One of my photocalls this week was with the Mayors of Cobh, Southampton and senior officials from Liverpool and Cherbourg. Proof of the widespread connection we have thanks to our Titanic links.

The economic benefits flowing from this - in terms of tourism and jobs potential – will be massive. I am confident that every part of the city – north, south, east and west – will reap the rewards.

Engaging with citizens in every part of Belfast is my pledge as Mayor. I aim to carry this out with enthusiasm, energy and optimism.

My first engagements have already included visits to projects in working class loyalist areas; a statement of intent on my part. And I hope that invitations will continue to come to me in the months ahead so that this commitment will be ongoing.

Not surprisingly, working to enhance the quality of life for young people will be a priority over the next year.

It is my hope that I can be regarded by our youth as a role model of what can be achieved – whatever their social, political or religious background.

Problems arising from disaffected youth need to be tackled directly to ensure that young people feel they have a valuable contribution to make to improve their communities and engage as good neighbours.

The scourge of teen suicides is a tragedy that sadly touches the lives of too many families across Belfast. I am committed to helping our society reach out to vulnerable teenagers and to help put measures in place which will stem their feelings of isolation and despair.

All of our citizens – including politicians – need to actually listen to what our young people tell us, as well as supporting and encouraging them.

But by focusing on youth, I do not intend to neglect the needs of others. I will be a Mayor representing the needs of all age groups and people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds.