ABC Lord Mayor joins historic gathering at first-ever Summit of the Cities
The Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has taken part in the first-ever gathering of representatives of all 12 cities on the island of Ireland,
Councillor Mary O’Dowd represented Armagh City at the inaugural Summit of the Cities, held in Belfast, where she met with the island’s 11 other ‘first citizens’.
The event marked the first time ever that civic representatives of every city on the island – including Lord Mayors, Mayors and Chairs – came together to discuss share challenges, opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and partnership between urban centres across Ireland.
The events partner was supported by BCF Lending, Ards & North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Intertrade Ireland, NIE Networks and Queen’s University Belfast.
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From Waterford City in Co Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, to its newest, Bangor, Co Down, civic leaders, policymakers, business representatives, academics and international experts travelled to Belfast for the event.
The summit explored topics including arts and culture, cross border trade, housing and regeneration, smart cities and AI. The event also welcomed a number of distinguished international speakers, including former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Cabinet Office Second Permanent Secretary Sue Gray, who shared insights drawn from their experience at the highest levels of city government and public administration.
Carl Whyte, partner at MW Advocate one of the Summit’s organisers said: “With a combined population of nearly two million people, Ireland’s 12 cities are its cultural, social and economic heart and bringing them all together for this historic event marks the start of a new era of friendship and collaboration.”