Councillor Jim Gildea elected Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

Tonight, 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.