Home News Latest News Lord Mayor reflects on year in office

Lord Mayor reflects on year in office

Thursday, 03 June 2010

LORD Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Emer Costello (Lab), is nearing the end of her stay in the Mansion House, but despite the passing of almost 12 months, it’s only now that she’s getting used to the honour of being the capital’s first citizen. Emer Costello, who represents the north inner city ward, is the 340th Lord Mayor of Dublin and the seventh woman to hold the position overall. “It’s been an absolutely amazing honour and such a privilege especially since I was elected unanimously which is the first time that’s happened in over 100 years,” she told Northside People. “It’s been a fantastic year that has given me a great insight and a unique window into how the city works as opposed to how constituency focused my work would have been before. “It was just amazing to be able to contribute to plans that would benefit the city in terms of jobs, the economy and cultural and community activity. “It’s been particularly challenging obviously because of the recession but that has actually shown just how much communities work together to pull through.” From the outset of being elected Lord Mayor, Cllr Costello decided that economic renewal in the city would be the main focus of her 12-month term. “The stark figures showed that urgent action was needed – 71,000 jobs lost to the city between June 2007 and June 2009,” she stated. “In June 2009, when I became Lord Mayor, 100,000 people were on the live register and one in four were considered long-term unemployed. “One of the first actions I took was to establish the Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment to promote employment and economic renewal in the city. “In September last year the Lord Mayor’s Commission put out a public ‘Call for Ideas’ in a bottom up approach which really caught the public’s imagination. “We received 120 submissions, with many innovative and creative ideas for boosting the city’s economy, creating employment and improving our competitiveness.” Contrary to what some might think, the job of Lord Mayor is incredibly demanding which demands almost 16-hour working days. “I’ve never done so many 8am meetings in my life,” the Lord Mayor explained. “It really is a case of going right through the day trying to juggle so many different things. “My philosophy has always been to try to get to as many events as possible to show my support for the work of the community. “Today alone I have at least eight events and meetings to attend in relation to eight different subjects which take me all over the city. “As well as that I have to try to fit in time with my staff who are the engine behind the steamroller. “It can be hard work but it is thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding.” The upside is that commuting from the home she shares with her husband, Labour TD Joe Costello, in Aughrim Street hasn’t been a problem since she moved to the Mansion House. “It really is an amazing feeling to live in the same house that has been home to so many wonderful people and Lord Mayors before me,” she added. “There’s history coming out of the walls. I mean Daniel O’Connell lived here, wow. “I don’t really get the fringe benefits of being smack in the middle of the city as I’m usually too tired to go out to do anything when I finish work. “Joe, however, loves the short walk he has around the corner to Leinster House.” The Lord Mayor’s term of office comes to an end on June 28.