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The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairperson of
Belfast City Council Belfast City Council () is the Local government in Northern Ireland, local authority with responsibility for part of Belfast, the largest city of Northern Ireland. The council serves an estimated population of (), the largest of any district c ...
, elected annually from and by the city's 60
councillors A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or regi ...
. The Lord Mayor also serves as the representative of the city of
Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...
, welcoming guests from across the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
. The current
Lord Mayor Lord mayor is a title of a mayor of what is usually a major city in a Commonwealth realm, with special recognition bestowed by the sovereign. However, the title or an equivalent is present in other countries, including forms such as "high mayor". A ...
is
Tracy Kelly Tracy, Tracey, or Tracie may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tracy (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname, also encompassing spelling variations Places United States * Tracy, C ...
of the
Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...
who has been in the position of Lord Mayor since 2 June 2025. The Deputy Lord Mayor is Paul Doherty of the
Social Democratic and Labour Party The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (M ...


History

The position that is now the
Lord Mayor Lord mayor is a title of a mayor of what is usually a major city in a Commonwealth realm, with special recognition bestowed by the sovereign. However, the title or an equivalent is present in other countries, including forms such as "high mayor". A ...
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 "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...
and
Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
. 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 The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. Powers In practice the Se ...
. For most of the city's modern history, the position has been held by Unionists, with members of the
Ulster Unionist Party The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded as the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it l ...
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 The Partition of Ireland () was the process by which the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (UK) divided Ireland into two self-governing polities: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland (the area today known as the R ...
in 1921 was
David Cook David Cook may refer to: Entertainment * David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR * David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol'' ** ''David Cook'' (album) (released 2008) ...
from the Alliance Party who was elected in 1978. The first
nationalist Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...
Lord Mayor was not appointed until the election of
Alban Maginness Alban Maginness (born 9 July 1950) is a Northern Irish Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Belfast North from 1998 to 2016. Early life and education Maginness was born ...
from the
Social Democratic and Labour Party The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (M ...
(SDLP) in 1997, while a
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...
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
D'Hondt system The D'Hondt method, also called the Jefferson method or the greatest divisors method, is an apportionment method for allocating seats in parliaments among federal states, or in proportional representation among political parties. It belongs to ...
.


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

Belfast City Hall Belfast City Hall (; Ulster-Scots: ) is the civic building of Belfast City Council located in Donegall Square, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It faces North and effectively divides the commercial and business areas of the city centre. It is a Grad ...
" widths="120px" heights="140px"> Image:James Horner Haslett Belfast.jpg,
James Horner Haslett Sir James Horner Haslett (January 1832 – 18 August 1905) was an Irish Conservative Party and then Irish Unionist Alliance, Unionist Party politician who sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1886 and 1896 to 1905. Has ...

Mayor of Belfast
1887–88
Image:William James Pirrie Belfast.jpg,
William James Pirrie William James Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie, KP, PC, PC (Ire) (31 May 1847 – 7 June 1924) was a leading British shipbuilder and businessman. He was chairman of Harland & Wolff, shipbuilders, between 1895 and 1924, and also served as Lord Ma ...

Lord Mayor of Belfast
1896–98
Image:Sir Daniel Dixon.jpg,
Sir Daniel Dixon Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet, (28 March 1844 – 10 March 1907) was an Irish businessman and politician. Early life Dixon was born on 28 March 1844 the son of Thomas and Sarah Dixon of Larne, County Antrim; his father was a merchant and shi ...

Lord Mayor of Belfast
1892–93, 1901–04 & 1905–07
Image:Robert James McMordie Belfast.jpg,
Robert James McMordie Robert James McMordie, King's Counsel, KC (31 January 1849 – 25 March 1914) was an Irish barrister, politician, and Lord Mayor of Belfast. Son of the Rev. J A McMordie, he was born in Cumran, County Down, and educated at the Royal Belfast Ac ...

Lord Mayor of Belfast
1910–14


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 Major-General Arthur Chichester, 3rd Earl of Donegall (1666 – 10 April 1706), was an English Army officer and peer. Early life He was the eldest son of Arthur Chichester, 2nd Earl of Donegall, and Jane Itchingham (–1712). Among his siblin ...
*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 Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...
, 1801–1814) *1807–1808: Rev. Edward May *1809–1810: James Edward May (MP for
Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...
, 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 Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...
, 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 Sir Charles Lanyon Deputy Lieutenant, DL, Justice of the Peace, JP (6 January 1813 – 31 May 1889) was an English Architecture, architect of the 19th century. His work is most closely associated with Belfast, Northern Ireland. Biography Lanyo ...
*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 Sir Edward James Harland, 1st Baronet (15 May 1831 – 24 December 1895), was an Ireland-based English shipbuilder and politician. Born in Scarborough in the North Riding of Yorkshire, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy. In 1846, aged 15, ...
, Bt (2 years) *1887–1889: Sir
James Horner Haslett Sir James Horner Haslett (January 1832 – 18 August 1905) was an Irish Conservative Party and then Irish Unionist Alliance, Unionist Party politician who sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1886 and 1896 to 1905. Has ...
(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 The Lord Mayor of Dublin () is the honorary title of the chairperson ( ) of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent, since December 2024, is Fine Gael councillor Emma ...
*
Lord Mayor of Cork The Lord Mayor of Cork () is the honorific title of the Chairperson () of Cork City Council which is the local government body for the city of Cork in Ireland. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the Council. The incumbent ...


References


External links

*
List of Mayors of Belfast Council 1842-1891

List of Lord Mayors Belfast Council

Former Lord Mayorsrecall chain of events
''
Belfast Newsletter The ''News Letter'' is one of Northern Ireland's main daily newspapers, published from Monday to Saturday. It is the world's oldest English-language general daily newspaper still in publication, having first been printed in September 1737. The ...
''
CAIN: The Northern Ireland Senate, 1921-72
{{Lists of Lord Mayors in the United Kingdom
Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...
Belfast City Council
Mayors In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...