Saoirse Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin

Saoirse Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin
Chief Mayor of Spálgleann
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 June 2018
Preceded by	Sadhbh Akhtar
Spálgleann City Councilor
In office 14 June 2010 – 19 June 2018
Personal details
Born	(1986-01-14) 14 January 1986 Spálgleann, Caldia
Political party	Social Democratic Party
Spouse	Conor Mac a' Bhàird
Children	2

Saoirse Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin (born 1986) is a Caldish politician who serves as the Chief Mayor of Spálgleann and is a member of the Social Democratic Party. She is the first Chief Mayor of Senrian and Coian descent. Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin is also the youngest person ever elected to the office. She was elected in 2018 under a special election and re-elected in 2020 to a full term. At the time of her 2018 election, Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin was 32 years old. Before serving as Chief Mayor, she was a member of the Spálgleann City Council from 2010 until 2017.

Family and education

In 1986, Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin was born in Spálgleann. Her father, Taro Itakura, was an engineer and her mother, Máire Ní Shuileabháin, was a receptionist. She has two younger sisters. The family lived in the Baile an Éisc neihborhood. Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin attended school in the city from pre-school to tertiary school.

She attended the Public University of Spálgleann and received a masters degree in social work. After completing her studies, she worked for the city government's social services department.

She is married to Conor Mac a' Bhàird. Together they have two children.

Career

While at university, Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin joined the DSO. the Social Democratic Party's youth-wing. She was an active member and served on the executive committee of her university's chapter. After completing her studies, she remained active within the DSO. Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin was recruited by the DSO's leadership to run for the Spálgleann City Council in 2010. At the age of 24, Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin was the youngest candidate to stand in 2010. She was elected to represent the Baile na hOllscoile Ward (now Ward 13). She served as a city councilor until 2018 when she successfully campaigned to become Chief Mayor of Spálgleann.

Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin contested the special election to replace Robrt Kean, who entered national politics. She was the first Chief Mayor from the PSD since Oisín Ó Cuinn whose term ended in 2009. She led the first round of voting, which took place on 5 June. In the second round, held on 12 June, she defeated Sadhbh Akhtar of the Liberty Party. Akhtar previously served as interim Chief Mayor after Kean's resignation, succeeding him as speaker of the city council. Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin's victory was considered a major win for the PSD, which had struggled in opposition to the Liberty Party. She was re-elected to a full term in 2020. The PSD also won a majority on the city council.

As Chief Mayor, Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin has worked to increase social services, expanding the budget of city departments responsible for providing them. She has also partnered with the national government on climate change. Starting in January 2020, automobiles were banned from certain parts of the city. These areas were declared green zones by the city government. The goal was to reduce vehicle usage in parts of the city were public transportation was available or that were walkable. The scheme has come under criticism for mostly targeting commercial areas, with some climate campaigners arguing it does little more than benefit retailors in shopping districts. Itakura-Ní Shuileabháin has shelved efforts to create additional green zones, but has reportedly considered making the entire city one. She has also come into conflict with ride-sharing apps.