List of mayors of Belfast

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.

Lord Mayor of Belfast
Belfast City Coat of Arms
Incumbent
Ryan Murphy
since 5 June 2023
StyleThe Right Honourable[1]
AppointerBelfast City Council
Term lengthOne year
Inaugural holderSir Daniel Dixon (Lord Mayor)
George Dunbar (Mayor)
John Vesey (Sovereign)
Formation1892 (as Lord Mayor of Belfast)
1842 (as Mayor of Belfast)
1613 (as Sovereign of Belfast)
DeputyÁine Groogan
WebsiteLord Mayor

The current Lord Mayor is Ryan Murphy of Sinn Féin who has been in the position of Lord Mayor since 5 June 2023. The Deputy Lord Mayor is Áine Groogan of the Green Party.

History
The Lord Mayor's Parlour is traditionally situated in Belfast City Hall

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.

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 D'Hondt system.

Powers and duties

The Lord's Mayor's role comprises these powers and duties:[2]

  • 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.[3]

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[4]
  • 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.[5]

  • 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.[6]

19th century
No. From To Name Party
1 1892 1893 Daniel Dixon Irish Unionist
2 1894 1896 William McCammond Irish Unionist
3 1896 1898 William James Pirrie Liberal
4 1898 1899 James Henderson Irish Unionist
5 1899 1900 Otto Jaffe Irish Unionist

20th century
No. From To Name Party
6 1900 1901 Sir Robert J. McConnell Irish Unionist
7 1901 1904 Sir Daniel Dixon Irish Unionist
8 1904 1905 Sir Otto Jaffe Irish Unionist
9 1905 1907 Sir Daniel Dixon Irish Unionist
10 1907 1908 The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury Irish Unionist
11 1908 1910 Sir Robert Anderson Irish Unionist
12 1910 1914 Robert James McMordie Irish Unionist
13 1914 1917 Sir Crawford McCullagh Irish Unionist
14 1917 1919 James Johnston Irish Unionist
15 1919 1920 John Campbell White Irish Unionist
16 1920 1923 William F. Coates Ulster Unionist
17 1923 1929 William George Turner Ulster Unionist
18 1929 1931 Sir William F. Coates Ulster Unionist
19 1931 1942 Sir Crawford McCullagh Ulster Unionist
20 1942 1942 George Ruddell Black Ulster Unionist
21 1943 1946 Sir Crawford McCullagh Ulster Unionist
22 1946 1949 Sir William F. Neill Ulster Unionist
23 1949 1951 William E. G. Johnston Ulster Unionist
24 1951 1953 James Henry Norritt Ulster Unionist
25 1953 1955 Sir Percival Brown Ulster Unionist
26 1955 1957 Sir Robert Harcourt Ulster Unionist
27 1957 1959 Cecil McKee Ulster Unionist
28 1959 1961 Robin Kinahan Ulster Unionist
29 1961 1963 Martin Kelso Wallace Ulster Unionist
30 1963 1966 William Jenkins Ulster Unionist
31 1966 1969 William Duncan Geddis Ulster Unionist
32 1969 1972 Joseph Foster Cairns Ulster Unionist
33 1972 1975 Sir William Christie Ulster Unionist
34 1975 1977 Sir Myles Humphreys Ulster Unionist
35 1977 1978 James Stewart Ulster Unionist
36 1978 1979 David Cook Alliance
37 1979 1980 Billy Bell Ulster Unionist
38 1980 1981 John Carson Ulster Unionist
39 1981 1982 Grace Bannister Ulster Unionist
40 1982 1983 Thomas Patton Ulster Unionist
41 1983 1985 Alfie Ferguson Ulster Unionist
42 1985 1986 John Carson Ulster Unionist
43 1986 1987 Sammy Wilson DUP
44 1987 1988 J.J. Dixon Gilmore Ulster Unionist
45 1988 1989 Nigel Dodds DUP
46 1989 1990 Reg Empey Ulster Unionist
47 1990 1991 Fred Cobain Ulster Unionist
48 1991 1992 Nigel Dodds DUP
49 1992 1993 Herbert Ditty Ulster Unionist
50 1993 1994 Reg Empey Ulster Unionist
51 1994 1995 Hugh Smyth PUP
52 1995 1996 Eric Smyth DUP
53 1996 1997 Ian Adamson Ulster Unionist
54 1997 1998 Alban Maginness SDLP
55 1998 1999 David Alderdice Alliance
56 1999 2000 Bob Stoker Ulster Unionist

21st century
No. From To Name Party
57 2000 2001 Sammy Wilson DUP
58 2001 2002 Jim Rodgers Ulster Unionist
59 2002 2003 Alex Maskey Sinn Féin
60 2003 2004 Martin Morgan SDLP
61 2004 2005 Tom Ekin Alliance
62 2005 2006 Wallace Browne DUP
63 2006 2007 Patrick McCarthy SDLP
64 2007 2008 Jim Rodgers Ulster Unionist
65 2008 2009 Tom Hartley Sinn Féin
66 2009 2010 Naomi Long Alliance
67 2010 2011 Pat Convery SDLP
68 2011 2012 Niall Ó Donnghaile Sinn Féin
69 2012 2013 Gavin Robinson DUP
70 2013 2014 Máirtín Ó Muilleoir Sinn Féin
71 2014 2015 Nichola Mallon SDLP
72 2015 2016 Arder Carson Sinn Féin
73 2016 2017 Brian Kingston DUP
74 2017 2018 Nuala McAllister Alliance
75 2018 2019 Deirdre Hargey Sinn Féin
76 2019 2019 John Finucane Sinn Féin
77 2019 2020 Daniel Baker Sinn Féin
78 2020 2021 Frank McCoubrey DUP
79 2021 2022 Kate Nicholl Alliance
80 2022 2022 Michael Long Alliance
81 2022 2023 Tina Black Sinn Féin
82 2023 Ryan Murphy Sinn Féin

Deputy Lord Mayors

20th century
No. From To Name Party
1 1975 1977 Grace Bannister Ulster Unionist
1977 1979 Post vacant
2 1978 1979 Dorothy Dunlop Ulster Unionist
1979 1980 Post vacant
1980 1981 Post vacant
3 1981 1982 Frank Millar Ind. Unionist
4 1982 1983 Frederick Edward (Ted) Ashby DUP
5 1983 1984 Hugh Smyth PUP
6 1984 1985 Billy Blair Ulster Unionist
7 1985 1986 Billy Dickson DUP
8 1986 1987 Dixie Gilmore Ulster Unionist
1987 1988 Post vacant
9 1988 1989 Reg Empey Ulster Unionist
1989 1990 Post vacant
10 1990 1991 Eric Smyth DUP
12 1991 1992 Herbert Ditty Ulster Unionist
13 1992 1993 Frank Millar Ind. Unionist
14 1993 1994 Hugh Smyth PUP
15 1994 1995 Ian Adamson Ulster Unionist
16 1995 1996 Alasdair McDonnell SDLP
17 1996 1997 Margaret Crooks Ulster Unionist
18 1997 1998 Jim Rodgers Ulster Unionist
19 1998 1999 Bob Stoker Ulster Unionist
20 1999 2000 Marie Moore Sinn Féin

21st century
No. From To Name Party
21 2000 2001 Frank McCoubrey Ulster Democratic
22 2001 2002 Hugh Smyth PUP
2002 2003 Post vacant
23 2003 2004 Margaret Crooks Ulster Unionist
24 2004 2005 Joe O'Donnell Sinn Féin
25 2005 2006 Pat Convery SDLP
26 2006 2007 Ruth Patterson DUP
27 2007 2008 Bernie Kelly SDLP
28 2008 2009 David Browne Ulster Unionist
29 2009 2010 Danny Lavery Sinn Féin
30 2010 2011 William Humphrey DUP
31 2011 2012 Ruth Patterson DUP
32 2012 2013 Tierna Cunningham Sinn Féin
33 2013 2014 Christopher Stalford DUP
34 2014 2015 Máire Hendron Alliance
35 2015 2016 Guy Spence DUP
36 2016 2017 Mary Ellen Campbell Sinn Féin
37 2017 2018 Sonia Copeland Ulster Unionist
38 2018 2019 Emmet McDonough-Brown Alliance
39 2019 2020 Peter McReynolds Alliance
40 2020 2021 Paul McCusker SDLP
41 2021 2022 Tom Haire DUP
42 2022 2023 Michelle Kelly Alliance
43 2023 2024 Áine Groogan Green (NI)

See also

References
  1. "How to address the Lord Mayor". Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  2. "Lord Mayor". Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  3. Benn, George (2008). A History of the Town of Belfast: From the Earliest Times to the Close of the Eighteenth Century. Oxford: Blackstaff Press. ISBN 978-0856408328.
  4. "Fletcher of Cockermouth Hall, Cumberland, England". RootsWeb. 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018.
  5. "Former Mayors (1842 to 1891)". Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  6. "Former Lord Mayors (1892 to 2008)". Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
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