Cian O'Callaghan

Cian O'Callaghan (born 10 May 1979) is an Irish Social Democrats politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Bay North constituency since the 2020 general election.[1][2] He is notable as the first openly gay mayor in Ireland.

Cian O'Callaghan

TD
O'Callaghan in 2020
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2020
ConstituencyDublin Bay North
Personal details
Born (1979-05-07) 7 May 1979
Dublin, Ireland
Political partySocial Democrats
Other political
affiliations		Labour Party (until 2013)
EducationBelvedere College
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
Websitecianocallaghan.ie

He was a member of Fingal County Council from 2009 to 2020.

Early life

O'Callaghan is from Sutton, Dublin. He graduated with a MA from University College Dublin (UCD).[3]

Political career

O'Callaghan was elected to Fingal County Council on his first attempt in 2009, representing Labour, taking the second seat in the Howth-Malahide local electoral area. In June 2012, he was elected as Mayor of Fingal, becoming the first openly gay mayor in the country's history.[4] During his time as mayor he highlighted the problems faced by homeowners in a number of newer developments in the Fingal area, where building materials contaminated with pyrite caused severe damage.[5]

In July 2013, O'Callaghan left the Labour Party on ideological grounds, stating: "The introduction of two budgets in a row that actually increased income inequality by targeting people on low and middle incomes was deeply unjust".[6]

Running as an Independent candidate at the 2014 local elections, O'Callaghan topped the poll in the Howth-Malahide local electoral area.[7] Contesting the 2016 general election for the Social Democrats in Dublin Bay North, he received 3,864 first preference votes and was eliminated on the 12th count.[7]

He was the Social Democrats candidate for the Dublin Bay North constituency at the 2020 general election, receiving 6,229 first preference votes, and was elected, taking the third of five seats. Joan Hopkin was co-opted to O'Callaghan's seat on Fingal County Council following his election to the Dáil.

References
  1. "Cian O'Callagha". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  2. "About Cian". Self. Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  3. "Cllr. Cian O'Callaghan". Social Democrats. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. McLysaght, Emer (22 June 2012). "Ireland's 'first openly gay mayor' elected". TheJournal.ie.
  5. Donnelly, Nicola (28 August 2012). "Pyrite tops the agenda for Fingal's new Mayor". Fingal Independent.
  6. "O'Callaghan quits Labour over 'unfair and unjust' policies". Fingal Independent. 30 July 2013.
  7. "Cian O'Callaghan". ElectionsIreland.org.
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