‘I’ve done things I never dreamed of doing’ – Mayor

WHEN the outgoing Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Emma Murphy, began her tenure in June 2022, she had no idea of what to expect from the varied and demanding role.

Over the course of the last 12 months, she has launched council projects, attended community events, chaired council meetings and been involved in a collection of diverse initiatives.

Speaking to The Echo on Monday afternoon on her final week in the role, Mayor Murphy reflected on how she felt this time last year when she was elected and presented with the mayoral chains.

“It was completely brand new to me, and I went all duck or no dinner, I went gung-ho for it,” said the Fianna Fáil councillor for Firhouse-Bohernabreena.

“I had no expectations for it, so I didn’t know what it would be like.

“The gravitas that comes with the chains really surprised me, and the respect the community has for the chains and how they gravitated towards me.

“The chains are a metaphorical and physical weight, and I didn’t understand the metaphorical weight until I became mayor.

“You’re carrying the weight of previous mayors around with you, because their names are on the chains.”

The experience was roundly positive for Mayor Murphy, who was enthusiastic about her experience and the impact it has had on her.

“It’s been the biggest honour and privilege I’ve ever had in my working life, it’s been a phenomenal year,” she said.

“It’s been so much fun and so positive. The biggest privilege I’ve gotten is being able to see the four corners of the county, because you’re usually so focused on your own electoral area.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, but the most positive rollercoaster and I’m definitely going to miss it.”

When asked for her highlights during her tenure, Mayor Murphy said there were many, but encouraging young people’s involvement in local government stood out to her in particular.

“I’m most proud of increasing participation with young people, and getting them involved in local politics,” she said.

This was achieved through inviting local young people into County Hall at the mayor’s request, and then providing the young people with the opportunity to have an audience with the mayor.

Mayor Murphy’s tenure as mayor will officially end on Friday, when a new mayor will be elected, and she will hand over the chains that she has proudly worn over 2022/2023.

“Whoever my successor will be, I just want them to know that being mayor is a once-in-a-lifetime year,” she said.

“Grab the opportunity with both hands, enjoy it, make hay with it, and throw yourself into it, because it’s such a privilege.

“I’ve done things I’ve never dreamed of doing, like climbing on top of slides in playspaces and representing the county while sitting next to the President.

“These are things that you’re never going to do again with the chains as the first citizen of the county.”

Looking ahead to what she will do when her term ends, Mayor Murphy is preparing for the arrival of her first child with her wife, Caroline Conway, at the end of summer, and she will begin working for Sightsavers Ireland as head of communications and public affairs.

She added: “I’m mentally preparing for finishing on Friday, and then decompressing with my family.”

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