Medallion Time For The Bould Mark Barry

Cathaoirleach and his sons… TUES30JUNE26

atest press release from Councillor Mark Barry, issued on Wednesday, July 1st 2026…

Cllr Mark Barry (Social Democrats) has been elected Cathaoirleach of the Greystones Municipal District, following a proposal from Cllr Tom Fortune and a seconding from Cllr Louise Fenelon Gaskin.

Speaking after his election, Cllr Barry said he was “genuinely honoured” to take on the role, describing the district as his home and the place where his family is rooted. He committed to putting the people of Greystones, Kilcoole, Delgany, and Newcastle at the heart of his work over the coming term, with an emphasis on bringing communities closer together through a spirit of solidarity. Both Cllr Fortune and Cllr Fenelon Gaskin said Cllr Barry’s energy and dedication to the community would serve him well as he steps into the role of Cathaoirleach.

Cllr Barry pointed to the district’s growing needs and his intention to build on the work already done through the Local Area Plan (LAP) process, crediting the unity among councillors for the district’s ability to deliver for its towns and villages. He reaffirmed his commitment to treating housing as a basic right, working towards practical solutions for those struggling to secure a home while pursuing a longer-term vision of accessible, secure housing for young families, older residents, and renters alike.

In his address to the chamber, Cllr Barry paid tribute to the district’s volunteers, thanking community groups such as Greystones Tidy Towns alongside the volunteer coaches and organisers in local sports clubs, describing them as “the heartbeat of this district.” He spoke of sport as a source of connection rather than just competition, renewing his commitment to inclusive facilities so that every young person – regardless of gender, background, or ability – can be part of a team. It is volunteers, he noted, who make that possible, and he committed to using his term to shine a light on their work and platform their needs.

Cllr Barry also confirmed he will continue his work as a Consent Ambassador with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s We Consent campaign, describing consent education as essential to building a safer, more respectful society. He emphasised that consent is a topic that affects everyone, central to how people treat one another in friendships, families, and communities, and key to building trust.

He also pledged to use his voice to continue speaking up in solidarity with the Palestinian people through his ongoing work with Greystones for Palestine, describing commitment to human rights as non-negotiable.

He closed by thanking colleagues for their trust and pledging to serve the district “with fairness, steadiness and respect.”