Lord Mayor of Cork facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lord Mayor of Cork |
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| Appointer | Cork City Council |
| Term length | 1 year |
| Inaugural holder | John Despencer (Provost) Richard Wine (Mayor) Edward Fitzgerald (Lord Mayor) |
| Formation | 1199 (as Provost of Cork) 1273 (as Mayor of Cork) 1900 (as Lord Mayor of Cork) |
| Salary | €47,925 (2016) |
The Lord Mayor of Cork (which is Ard-Mhéara Chathair Chorcaí in Irish) is a special title given to the leader of Cork City Council. This Council is the group that helps run the city of Cork in Ireland. The person who holds this job is chosen each year by the other members of the Council. The current Lord Mayor is Dan Boyle.
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Understanding the Lord Mayor's Role
The Lord Mayor of Cork is like the city's main representative. They lead meetings of the City Council and attend many public events. Think of them as the city's official host and spokesperson. While the Lord Mayor is very important for showing the city's spirit, the day-to-day running of Cork is handled by a different official called the chief executive.
A Look at the Lord Mayor's History
The role of Cork's chief citizen has changed over many centuries.
Early Leaders of Cork City
The first recorded leader of Cork was called a Provost. This was in 1199. Later, in 1273, the title changed to Mayor of Cork. The first official mention of a Mayor was in a special document called a charter, given to the city by King Edward II in 1318.
Becoming the Lord Mayor
The title changed again to Lord Mayor in 1900. This happened because of a special charter given by Queen Victoria. This change showed the growing importance of Cork as a major city.
The "Throwing the Dart" Tradition
There's a unique tradition in Cork called Throwing the Dart. The Lord Mayor throws a dart into Cork Harbour. This ceremony shows that the city of Cork has control over its port and waters. This tradition was first written about in 1759, but it's probably much older than that!
How the Lord Mayor is Chosen
Each year, the councillors (members) of Cork City Council vote to choose one of themselves to be the Lord Mayor.
Past Election Agreements
For many years, from 1979 to 2014, the main political parties in Cork (Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Labour Party) had an agreement. They would take turns being Lord Mayor each year. This agreement sometimes caused debate and criticism from the public.
New Election System
After the local elections in 2014, a new system was put in place. This system, called the D'Hondt method, helped to share the Lord Mayor role among more parties. These included Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, and even independent councillors (who don't belong to a specific party).
Notable People Who Were Lord Mayor
Many important people have held the position of Lord Mayor or its earlier versions. Here are a few:
- John Despencer (1199): He was the very first Provost of Cork.
- Richard Wine (1273): He was the first person to be called the Mayor of Cork.
- Sir Daniel Hegarty (1900): He was the first person to hold the title of Lord Mayor of Cork.
- Sir Edward Fitzgerald, 1st Baronet (1901-1904): He was Lord Mayor during a big event called the Cork International Exhibition.
- Tomás Mac Curtain (1920): He was the first Lord Mayor from the Sinn Féin political party.
- Terence MacSwiney (1920): He became Lord Mayor after Tomás Mac Curtain and sadly died during a hunger strike.
- Jane Dowdall (1959): She made history as the first female Lord Mayor of Cork.
- Gerald Goldberg (1977): He was the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Cork.
Other Similar Roles
- Lord Mayor of Dublin
- Lord Mayor of Belfast
- Mayor of Kilkenny
