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The Lord Mayor of Belfast is a ceremonial position held by a member of Belfast City Council and annually elected by that council.

The post originated in 1613 as the Sovereign of Belfast. In 1842, this position was restyled the Mayor of Belfast, and in 1892, it was given Lord Mayor status. In 1929, it became one of only six cities in the United Kingdom to have a Lord Mayor styled "the Right Honorable". On the island of Ireland, it is one of three cities having a Lord Mayor, the other two being Cork and Dublin. The position was held for three years until 1973. From 1921 until 1972, the Lord Mayor was automatically entitled to a seat in the Senate of Northern Ireland.

Given the nature of politics in Northern Ireland, the candidate for this position and their political orientation are often a cause of controversy. The first non-Unionist Lord Mayor was David Cook in 1978; while no nationalist was elected to the post until Alban McGuinness in 1997.

Powers and Duties

• In times of natural disaster the Lord Mayor may direct resources such as Police, Fire and Ambulance as he see's fit
  
• Presiding over meetings of the council and, in the case of equality of votes, the Lord Mayor has a second or casting vote
  
• Promoting and raising awareness of the council’s main objectives and priority issues
  
• Encouraging and supporting all aspects of life in Belfast by attending civic and public events
  
• Receiving distinguished visitors to the city
  
• Acting as host on behalf of the council and the citizens of Belfast at civic functions
  
• Acting as a spokesperson to the local, national and international media
  
• Providing an appropriate response on behalf of Belfast at times of local, national and international catastrophe
  
• Supporting and encouraging charitable and other appeals as appropriate
  
• Promoting Belfast's business, commercial, cultural and social life
  
• Promoting Belfast as a place of excellence in which to do business and as a tourist destination.
  

List of Lord Mayors of Belfast

References

• List of Lord Mayors Belfast Council
• Belfast City Council. Lord mayor
• Former Lord Mayorsrecall chain of events, Belfast Newsletter
• CAIN: The Northern Ireland Senate, 1921-72

1. Belfast City Council. Councillors. Lord Mayor

• Lord Mayors of Belfast
• Lists of mayors
• Mayors of places in Northern Ireland
• Politics of Belfast