Last week I was elected as deputy Lord Mayor for Dublin and even though the kids in my class were annoyed that I don't get a house or a car, I hope to use the office to highlight issues of concern to me.
Protesting outside the Mater Hospital at the ongoing crisis in our A&E department
The vote at the meeting was one of the most stressful evenings I have had since Dublin's defeat of Tyrone last summer. While my Labour Party colleague, Clllr. Paddy Bourke lost out on the Lord Mayor position I was delighted to be elected in the deputy post particularly seeing as how my Dad was in the audience.
The first function in my first week was to give out medals at the community games in Santry stadium where I was announced as Deputy Aengus O Riordan! But I then went speedily to Sheriff Street where they know me better and where I was adjudicating on the annual pram race as part of the community week held each year.
Thankfully there was a clear winner and no controversy unlike last year when I was a judge at the silly hat competition in the Lourdes day care centre and almost needed a Garda escort after making an unpopular decision.
I had a meeting with the Lord Mayor this morning (July 4th) and the themes we will be working on for the year include young people, suicide prevention, community facilities and the Irish language.
Táim fós ag dul i dtaithí ar chursaí teicneolaíochta ach ni mor dibh a bheith foighneach! Slán go fóill!
