The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairperson of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the city's 60 councillors. The lord mayor also serves as the representative of the city of Belfast, welcoming guests from across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The current lord mayor is Róis-Máire Donnelly of Sinn Féin who has been in the position of lord mayor since 1 June 2026. The Deputy Lord Mayor is Hedley Abernethy of the Alliance Party

History

The position that is now the lord mayor originated in 1613 in the town's Royal Charter as the sovereign of Belfast. In 1842, this position was restyled the mayor of Belfast. In 1892, four years after Belfast was granted city status, the position was given lord mayor status, making it one of only three cities on the island of Ireland having a lord mayor, the other two being Cork and Dublin. In 1929, it became one of only six cities in the United Kingdom to have a lord mayor styled "the Right Honourable". Until 1973 the position was held for three years, when it was reduced to its current term of one year. From 1921 until 1972, the lord mayor was automatically entitled to a seat in the Senate of Northern Ireland. Until the mid 1990s, the lord mayor would have the option for a set of ornamental streetlights installed on their street for the duration of their term, which would then be moved to their successor's street. They were entitled to decline this and the streetlights are now permanently installed outside Ulster Hall.

For most of the city's modern history, the position has been held by Unionists, with members of the Ulster Unionist Party holding the post for a total of 61 of the 67 years between 1921 and 1997. The first non-Unionist lord mayor since the partition of Ireland in 1921 was David Cook from the Alliance Party who was elected in 1978. The first nationalist lord mayor was not appointed until the election of Alban Maginness from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 1997, while a Sinn Féin lord mayor was first elected in 2002. The loss of the Unionist majority on the Council in 1997 has resulted in a greater rotation of the position amongst the parties, which, like other elected positions within the Council such as Committee chairs, is now filled using the Jefferson method.

Powers and duties

The Lord's Mayor's role comprises these powers and duties:

• In times of natural disaster the Lord Mayor may direct resources such as Police, Fire and Ambulance as they see fit

• Presiding over meetings of the council and, in the case of equality of votes, the Lord Mayor has a second or casting vote

• Promoting and raising awareness of the council's main objectives and priority issues

• Encouraging and supporting all aspects of life in Belfast by attending civic and public events

• Receiving distinguished visitors to the city

• Acting as host on behalf of the council and the citizens of Belfast at civic functions

• Acting as a spokesperson to the local, national and international media

• Providing an appropriate response on behalf of Belfast at times of local, national and international catastrophe

• Supporting and encouraging charitable and other appeals as appropriate

• Promoting Belfast's business, commercial, cultural and social life

• Promoting Belfast as a place of excellence in which to do business and as a tourist destination.

Deputy lord mayor

The position of deputy lord mayor has a representative role within the city along with the lord mayor. When the lord mayor is unavailable for whatever reason, it is the responsibility of the deputy lord mayor to carry out the representative functions of the lord mayor.

While the deputy lord mayor is in office, they combine their mayoral responsibilities with their responsibilities as a councillor, such as serving on Council Committees.

Monuments

Sovereigns of Belfast (1613–1842)

The following is a list of sovereigns of Belfast from the creation of the position in 1613 until it was replaced by the position of Mayor in 1842.

17th century

• 1613: John Vesey

• 1614: John Willowbye

• 1615: James Burr

• 1616: James Burr

• 1617: Carew Hart

• 1618: Carew Hart

• 1619: George Theaker

• 1620: George Theaker

• 1621: No Name

• 1622: Edward Holmes

• 1623: Edward Holmes

• 1624: No Name

• 1625: No Name

• 1626: Edward Holmes

• 1627: Carew Hart

• 1628: Edward Holmes

• 1629: No Name

• 1630: Walter House Crymble

• 1631: Lewys Thompson

• 1632: Robert Foster

• 1633: Thomas Brampton or Brumston

• 1634: Lewys Thompson

• 1635: Henry Le Squire

• 1636: Henry Le Squire

• 1637: John Wasber

• 1638: John Leathes, Senior

• 1639: Henry Le Squire

• 1640: John Haddock

• 1641: Thomas Hamington

• 1642: Thomas Stephenson

• 1643: Thomas Theaker

• 1644: Robert Foster

• 1645: William Leathes

• 1646: John Asshe or Ayshe

• 1647: Hugh Doake

• 1648: Robert Foster

• 1649: George Giles Martin

• 1650: Thomas Harrington

• 1651: Thomas Harrington

• 1652: Thomas Waring

• 1653: Thomas Waring

• 1654: Thomas Theaker

• 1655: John Leathes Junior

• 1656: Thomas Waring

• 1657: William Leathes

• 1658: William Leathes

• 1659: William Leathes and Francis Meek

• 1660: Captain Francis Meek

• 1661: John Rigby

• 1662: George Macartney

• 1663: George Macartney

• 1664: Thomas Waring

• 1665: Thomas Waring

• 1666: Edward Raynell

• 1667: Captain George Macartney

• 1668: Captain George Macartney

• 1669: William Warring

• 1670: William Warring

• 1671: Thomas Walcott

• 1672: George Macartney

• 1673: George Macartney

• 1674: Hugh Eccles

• 1675: George Macartney

• 1676: George Macartney

• 1677: George Macartney

• 1678: George Macartney

• 1679: George Macartney

• 1680: George Macartney

• 1681: Francis Tholford

• 1682: Lewis Thompson

• 1683: John Hamilton

• 1684: John Hamilton

• 1685: Thomas Knox

• 1686: Captain Robert Leathes

• 1687: Captain Robert Leathes

• 1688: Captain Robert Leathes

• 1689: Captain Robert Leathes

• 1690: Captain Robert Leathes

• 1691: William Lockhart

• 1692: James Macartney

• 1693: William Craford

• 1694: William Craford

• 1695: Captain Edward Harrison

• 1696: Lewis Thompson

• 1697: Arthur Chichester, 3rd Earl of Donegall

• 1698: David Smith

• 1699: David Smith

18th century

• 1700: George Macartney

• 1701: John Chalmers

• 1702: David Butle

• 1703: David Butle

• 1704: David Butle and George Macartney

• 1705: George Macartney

• 1706: George Macartney

• 1707: George Macartney

• 1708: George Macartney

• 1709: Richard Wilson

• 1710: Roger Haddock

• 1711: Roger Haddock

• 1712: Hans Hamilton

• 1713: Robert Leathes

• 1714: James Gurner

• 1715: James Gurner

• 1716: Henry Ellis

• 1717: John Carpenter

• 1718: John Carpenter

• 1719: Henry Ellis

• 1720: Robert Le Byrtt

• 1721: Robert Le Byrtt

• 1722: Henry Ellis

• 1723: George Macartney

• 1724: Major George Macartney and Nathaniel Byrtt

• 1725: Nathaniel Byrtt

• 1726: Dr. James Macartney

• 1727: John Clugstone

• 1728: John Clugstone

• 1729: Thomas Banks

• 1730: John Duff

• 1731: Arthur Byrtt

• 1732: John Clugstone

• 1733: John Clugstone

• 1734: Robert Le Byrtt

• 1735: Robert Le Byrtt

• 1736: Margetson Saunders

• 1737: Margetson Saunders

• 1738: Margetson Saunders

• 1739: Robert Le Byrtt

• 1740: Robert Le Byrtt

• 1741: John Duff

• 1742: John Duff

• 1743: Robert Le Byrtt

• 1744: Arthur Byrtt

• 1745: Arthur Byrtt

• 1746: Arthur Byrtt

• 1747: John Duff

• 1748: Margetson Saunders

• 1749: George Macartney

• 1750: George Macartney

• 1751: George Macartney

• 1752: Arthur Byrtt

• 1753: John Duff

• 1754: Margetson Saunders

• 1755: Stewart Banks

• 1756: Stewart Banks

• 1757: Arthur Byrtt

• 1758: Stewart Banks

• 1759: George Macartney

• 1760: Stephen Havon

• 1761: James Hamilton

• 1762: Stewart Banks

• 1763: George Macartney

• 1764: George Macartney

• 1765: George Macartney

• 1766: Stewart Banks

• 1767: George Macartney

• 1768: George Macartney

• 1769: James Hamilton

• 1770: Stephen Havon

• 1771: Stewart Banks

• 1772: Sham Thompson

• 1773: James Lewis

• 1774: James Lewis

• 1775: George Black

• 1776: George Black

• 1777: James Lewis

• 1778: Stewart Banks

• 1779: Samuel Black

• 1780: Samuel Black

• 1781: Samuel Black

• 1782: George Black

• 1783: George Black

• 1784: Samuel Black

• 1785: George Black

• 1786: Rev. William Bristow

• 1787: Rev. William Bristow

• 1788: Rev. William Bristow

• 1789: Samuel Black

• 1790: Rev. William Bristow

• 1791: Rev. William Bristow

• 1792: Rev. William Bristow

• 1793: Rev. William Bristow

• 1794: Rev. William Bristow

• 1795: Rev. William Bristow

• 1796: Rev. William Bristow

• 1797: John Brown

• 1798: Rev. William Bristow

• 1799: John Brown

19th century

• 1800–1801: John Brown

• 1802: Arthur Chichester

• 1803–1806: James Edward May (MP for Belfast, 1801–1814)

• 1807–1808: Rev. Edward May

• 1809–1810: James Edward May (MP for Belfast, 1801–1814)

• 1811: Rev. Edward May

• 1812–1815: Thomas Verner

• 1816: Rev. Edward May

• 1817–1818: Thomas Ludford Stewart

• 1819–1822: Thomas Verner

• 1823: John Agnew and Andrew Alexander

• 1824: Andrew Alexander and John Agnew

• 1825–1826: John Agnew

• 1827: Rev. Lord Edward Chichester

• 1828–1833: Sir Stephen Edward May (MP for Belfast, 1814–1816)

• 1834–1840: John Agnew

• 1841–1842: Thomas Verner, Jun (Last Sovereign of the Old Corporation)

Mayors of Belfast (1842–1892)

The following is a list of mayors of Belfast from the creation of the position in 1842 until it was replaced by the position of Lord Mayor in 1892.

• 1842–1844: George Dunbar (2 years)

• 1844–1845: John Dunbar

• 1845–1846: Andrew Mulholland

• 1846–1847: John Kane

• 1847–1848: John Harrison

• 1848–1849: George Suffern

• 1849–1850: William Gilliland Johnston

• 1850–1852: James Sterling (2 years)

• 1852–1853: Samuel Graeme Fenton

• 1853–1854: William McGee

• 1854–1855: Frederick Harry Lewis

• 1855–1856: Thomas Verner

• 1856–1859: Samuel Gibson Getty (3 years)

• 1859–1861: William Ewart (2 years)

• 1861–1862: Edward Coey

• 1862–1863: Charles Lanyon

• 1863–1866: John Lyttle (3 years)

• 1866–1867: William Mullan

• 1867–1868: David Taylor

• 1868–1869: Samuel McCausland

• 1869–1870: Frederick Harry Lewis

• 1870–1871: Samuel Browne

• 1871–1872: Philip Johnston

• 1872–1873: (Sir) John Savage

• 1873–1875: James Henderson (2 years)

• 1875–1876: Thomas Graham Lindsay

• 1876–1877: Robert Boag

• 1877–1879: Sir John Preston (2 years)

• 1879–1881: John Browne (2 years)

• 1881–1883: Sir Edward Cowan (2 years)

• 1883–1885: Sir David Taylor (2 years)

• 1885–1888: Sir Edward Harland, Bt (2 years)

• 1887–1889: Sir James Horner Haslett (2 years)

• 1889–1891: Charles C. Connor (2 years)

Source: Belfast City Council

Lord Mayors of Belfast (1892–present)

The following is a list of lord mayors of Belfast since the creation of the position in 1892.

19th century

20th century

21st century

Deputy Lord Mayors

20th century

21st century

See also

• Lord Mayor of Dublin

• Lord Mayor of Cork

References

External links

• List of Mayors of Belfast Council 1842-1891

• List of Lord Mayors Belfast Council

• Former Lord Mayors recall chain of events, Belfast Newsletter

• CAIN: The Northern Ireland Senate, 1921-72