An Cathaoirleach

Office of An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

An Cathaoirleach is the First Citizen of the County, taking precedence over all others, except the President, when attending events or functions within the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area.

An Cathaoirleach is elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) every June and serves for a one year term. The responsibilities of An Cathaoirleach include the following:

• Chairing of Council Meetings
• Representing the Council at local, national and international events
• Bestowing Civic Honours on groups and citizens within the County
• The awarding of Cathaoirleach’s Awards to groups and citizens from within the County
• An Leas-Cathaoirleach is also elected at the Council AGM every June. They deputise for An Cathaoirleach in the event that they are unable to attend a meeting or event.

Current Office Holder

Councillor Jim Gildea has been elected Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at the Council's Annual General Meeting (AGM). Councillor Gildea, a Shankill resident for over 45 years, has a strong community focus and has been a full-time public representative since 2016. Before that he held senior roles in IT Infrastructure and Network Communications in Ireland and overseas. He was also a member of Dublin County Council before the creation of the four local authorities for the Dublin area.

Upon his election, Councillor Gildea stated, "I am honoured to have been elected as Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. I am committed to working tirelessly for the residents of the county and addressing key issues such as accessibility, economic development, and sustainability."

He has worked with various community organisations ranging from residence and community associations to tidy towns and as a founder member and first chairperson of Shankill Tennis Club. Cllr Gildea has served as chairperson of the Dún Laoghaire Area Committee on two occasions as well as serving on DLR's Housing, Economic Development and Planning Strategic Policy Committees. He was a member of the Eastern and Midlands regional Authority and a long-time member and former chairperson of the Dublin Mid- Leinster Regional Health Forum.

Cllr Gildea has outlined his priorities for the upcoming year, focusing on improving facilities for persons with disabilities, championing the SME sector, and advocating for energy conservation measures in council-owned buildings. He is dedicated to ensuring the needs of all road users, especially older people and persons with disabilities. In his new role, Councillor Gildea will work tirelessly to serve the residents of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and continue to make a positive impact on the community.

At the Council AGM, Councillor Pierce Dargan was elected as Leas Cathaoirleach and represents the ward of Glencullen-Sandyford. Cllr Dargan was first elected in June 2024.  He is also the Vice-Chair of Fine Gael’s Small Business and Enterprise Council since 2024. Pierce is the founder and CEO of Equine MediRecord (EMR). EMR provides their software platform to clients to ensure compliance to the latest animal welfare and anti-doping protocols and regulations in the equine industry, promoting horse welfare. Equine MediRecord received an 8-figure investment in 2022 from Merit Holdings to become part of their Business Infusions Group, the largest equine veterinary software group in the world. Pierce was named in Ireland’s 30 under 30 and named Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur for the Irish Midlands in 2019.

Chain of Office

During their term, An Cathaoirleach wears the official Chain of Office when representing Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The chain was created in 1994 and is multiple links of 9ct gold bound to a 9ct gold pendant crest of Dún Laoghaire. The chain has multiple symbols which represent the following:

Shamrock: This is from the seal of Rathdown no. 1 Rural District Council (harks back to the old Barony of Rathdown).

Viking ship: The ship represents the Viking associations of this coastal and maritime area, which later came to also represent trade.

The Irish crown: Pre-independence versions of the crest had a crown representing British imperial connections with the name Kingstown. This was later changed to a more jagged type of crown to reference those thought to be worn by Irish kings such as King Laoghaire.

Oak branch with acorns: This represents the ancient wooded nature of the entire county and the aspiration for conservation of the natural environment.

Mountain / hill (the triangle): This represents the hills and part of the Dublin mountains to the south and south-west of the county.

The Sea: The sea represents the maritime tradition of the County and its importance for trade and recreation. It also represents the common coastline of the two former administrative areas unified by the Council.