Belfast’s new Lord Mayor has used her first address in the role to call on residents, community groups and cultural organisers to help the city show its best side during a major summer for Irish music and visitors.
Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly was installed as Lord Mayor of Belfast at the annual general meeting of Belfast City Council on 1 June 2026, taking over the chain of office from Councillor Tracy Kelly. Her first message centred on Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the large cultural festival due to put Belfast in the spotlight this summer and again in 2027, with August visitors already expected to plan around its citywide programme.
Donnelly said the Fleadh would be about “celebrating together”, with the city given a rare chance to involve communities across Belfast in one of Europe’s biggest cultural events.
Róis-Máire Donnelly takes the chain of office
Donnelly, 30, is a Sinn Féin councillor from Ballymurphy and represents the Black Mountain electoral area in west Belfast. She has served on the council since May 2023.
Her installation at City Hall marks the start of a mayoral year in which culture, youth engagement and the Irish language are expected to be prominent themes. Speaking after the meeting, she described 2026 as a “huge year for Belfast” and urged citizens to take part in the work around the Fleadh.
She said the event would need a “team effort” and could provide a platform to highlight the city’s people, diversity, traditions and stories. Her remarks framed the festival not only as a visitor event, but as a civic test of how Belfast presents itself and how widely the benefits are felt.
Donnelly also used Irish in her address, saying communities thrive together and that the summer ahead could showcase musical heritage and tradition beyond the island of Ireland.
Fleadh Cheoil places Belfast on a larger cultural stage
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is closely associated with traditional Irish music, song, dance and community performance. For Belfast, hosting the Fleadh across 2026 and 2027 gives the city two consecutive years to build visitor interest and community participation around a single cultural programme.
That matters for local neighbourhoods as well as the city centre. Large cultural events can bring footfall to hospitality, transport, retail and visitor attractions, but they also depend on planning, stewarding, public services and clear information for residents.
Donnelly said the Fleadh offered a chance to encourage visitors to explore “right across our city”. That point is likely to shape how local venues, community organisations and cultural groups position themselves during the summer.
The council’s annual meeting was streamed live through its website, and the same meeting also confirmed committee chair appointments for the final year of the current four-year council term.
Young people and the Irish language named as priorities
Donnelly said young people would be central to her year in office, noting that 40% of Belfast’s population is aged 30 or under. She linked that age profile to issues including cost of living pressures, inclusive growth and climate change.
Her stated aim is to hear young people’s ideas and encourage them to take part in shaping local solutions. She placed particular emphasis on girls and young women, saying she wants to support projects that empower them, challenge negative behaviour towards women and improve access to support services.
The Irish language will also be a visible strand of her term. Donnelly said Belfast’s Irish-speaking community is growing and should be protected and nurtured alongside other languages.
She said Irish language groups have a role in regeneration, relationship-building and Belfast’s future, adding that language can act as a “force for good” across the city.
Deputy Lord Mayor role passes to Hedley Abernethy
Councillor Hedley Abernethy has become Belfast’s new Deputy Lord Mayor. Abernethy is an Alliance Party councillor for the Ormiston electoral area and takes over from outgoing Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Paul Doherty.
The leadership changes come as the council enters the last year of its current four-year term, with the Fleadh programme set to give the new civic team an early and high-profile focus.
Donnelly said the event would create benefits “felt for years to come” if the city uses the moment to engage communities and show visitors what Belfast has to offer.
Source: Belfast City Council
Source check Source trail
This article is based on Belfast City Council’s 1 June 2026 announcement and keeps names, roles and quoted priorities aligned with that source.
- Confirmed Róis-Máire Donnelly was installed as Lord Mayor of Belfast on 1 June 2026.
- Checked that she represents the Black Mountain electoral area and is from Ballymurphy.
- Confirmed Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is referenced as taking place in Belfast in 2026 and 2...
- Confirmed Hedley Abernethy was named as the new Deputy Lord Mayor.
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- Belfast City Council
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- Belfast
- Updated
- 2026-06-03 22:28
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