Cian O'Callaghan


Cian O'Callaghan is an Irish Social Democrats politician who has been a Teachta Dála for Dublin Bay North since the 2020 general election. He is notable as the first openly gay mayor in Ireland.
He was a member of Fingal County Council from 2009 to 2020.

Early life

O'Callaghan is from Sutton, Dublin. He graduated with a Master's degree from University College Dublin.

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. 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.
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."
Running as an Independent candidate at the 2014 local elections, O'Callaghan topped the poll in the Howth-Malahide local electoral area. 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.
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.