Join me in conversation with Belfast’s youngest ever Lord Mayor, Niall O’Donnghaile.
The Lord Mayor, speaks bluntly about dealing with members of the Royal family and is unequivocal on the issue of separate wreath-laying cermonies in honour of those who fell in the two World Wars.
O’Donnghaile speaks warmly of an emerging relationship with his Deputy Lord Mayor, Ruth Patterson of the DUP – boasting ‘if there is one thing I am good at doing, it’s wooing.’
12 Comments
Ar fheabhas – bhain me sult mor as!
Eamonn,
This is a very competent young man and has been doing an excellent job as Lord Mayor. There would be plenty of reasons why people would snub Niall and he could do the same but as the Good Friday Agreement shows us – where does that kind of thinking get us?
The people of Belfast should take a pat on the back for moving forward together because one of the perks is the MTV Awards – well done. The “suicide awareness” idea Niall talked about is an excellent idea which is very topical (unfortunately) and necessary. A very interesting interview.
How can any Mayor say he represents the city of Belfast, after his recent snub to a young girl? The actions were that of a fascist, nothing more, nothing less. He must resign and do it now.
I feel he should have presented the award, but the outcry from Unionists is laughable, if not ridiculous considering his DUP deputy Ruth Patterson refuses to even speak to him ? Images of her on TV refusing to acknowledge him were quite frankly, embarrassing for all the people of N.I. Reeks of hypocrisy ! Reeks of it !!
Niall you are still a closet bigot and you always will be
Niall O’Donnghaile has been doing a good job in the office of Lord Mayor of Belfast and he has made efforts to be a representive for all the people of Belfast. His action at insulting the efforts of this young girl was a mistake in my opinion, to slap her emotionally just because she lives her life in a way Niall does not approve says more about him rather than her.
To be fair to Niall I also think that this action was a bit contradictory to things he has done during his time as Lord Mayor, the vile insults by Sammy Wilson MP MLA about infant children of Sinn Fein activists at the weekend maybe explains events. Niall O’Donnghaile was reported in the Irish News as being very unhappy about comments made, of course I could be wrong and even if I am correct it does not explain why Niall did what he did.
The big question is, “Where does Unionists go when SF gives them the fingers?” Do they want to blow this out of all proportion and stop the council from functioning just because of a mis-understanding / fault in the thinking of the Lord Mayor? It is obvious that our society needs to do a lot more in the Peace Process and Reconcillation.