Politicians cannot allow demonstrations against asylum accommodation to "fester" or wait for "violent flare-ups" to engage with protestors, the Lord Mayor of Dublin has warned. Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan insisted that it is "absolutely not" too late to win back support from those who are now anti-immigration but that this has to involve community engagement. Mr Geoghegan also told the Irish Mirror about his plans to rejuvenate Dublin City Centre which will ensure there is no space for those "hell-bent on carrying out antisocial behaviour or criminal activity".
Mr Geoghegan, 39, became the 365th Lord Mayor of Dublin in June, moving across the city from Clonskeagh to the Mansion House on Dawson Street. A councillor since 2019, the 39-year-old barrister moved to the city centre digs with his wife, Claire, and their three young children, Hugh, 6, Harry, 4 and Lila, 2. Read more: Lord Mayor backs 'beautiful idea' of Sinead O'Connor statue in Dublin Read more: Historic Liffey Swim to honour Jack B Yeats with Olympic medal replicas for all swimmers The kids are enjoying living in the city, their dad explains, with Hugh in particular fascinated by the Luas running by their front door.
However, moving to the city centre has also shown the new Lord Mayor the extent of some of its issues and focused his mind on what his priorities will be. Mr Geoghegan said he will have a "back to basics" approach that will see Dublin become safer and cleaner. He will also seek to make Dublin .