The Mayor

The current Mayor of Ards and North Down is Councillor Karen Douglas

The Mayor is a representative of all the residents of the Ards and North Down Borough.  During his/her term of office, the Mayor will seek to accept invitations from all sections of the community.  Every effort will be made by the Mayor’s office to ensure that the Mayor’s visit to your function is a success.   

Mayoral Protocol
The following are guidelines which may prove helpful when you have invited the Mayor to your event.  Please remember that the Mayor is the first citizen of the Borough and should be afforded every privilege as such. 

• The Mayor’s secretary must be told at what time you would like the Mayor to arrive at your event, where he/she should be met by the host ie. Chairman / President/ leader of your group / organisation, and escorted by such a person into and throughout the event.
• That person should then make any necessary introductions to other organisers / office bearers or special guests present.
• When addressing the Mayor the correct term is “Mr Mayor” or if it is a female in office “Madam Mayor.”
• The Mayor should be accompanied by the host of the event at all times, this includes being guided around the event or seated next to at a concert. If refreshments are served, it is usual that the Mayor would take precedence.
• Should the Mayor have a participating role in your event, the Mayor’s secretary should be informed well beforehand. For example, a speech to make, a trophy to present, a ribbon to cut etc.
• The Mayor will know from his / her briefing from the Mayor’s secretary exactly what is required from him / her, but you, as the organiser, should confirm all the details with the Mayor before your event begins.
• The Mayor has precedence inside his / her own Borough, that is, the Mayor should walk first, be announced first, should be spoken to/introduced first etc.The Mayor surrenders precedence only when the Lord Lieutenant is present in his official capacity representing the Queen. It goes without saying that the Mayor will give precedence to Her Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal Family.
• Unless the Mayor occupies the Chair at a gathering, he / she should be seated to the immediate right of the Chairman. If a speech is requested from the Mayor it is usual that the Mayor would speak first.
• The Mayor and Mayoress should always be seated on the platform or at the top table.
• At the conclusion of your event, when the Mayor is leaving, he / she must be escorted to either the door or outside to the Mayoral car.

The Mayoress or Mayor’s Consort
When a male Mayor is in office, then his spouse / partner is known as the Mayoress / Mayor’s Consort of Ards and North Down and should be addressed as “Mayoress / Consort.”  When a female Mayor is in office, then her spouse / partner is known as the Mayor’s Consort and should simply be addressed as “Mr / Consort”.  The Mayoress or Mayor’s Consort should be treated with the same courtesy as the Mayor when accompanying him / her to an event. 

Robes
At most functions the Mayor / Mayoress / Mayor’s Consort / Deputy Mayor will wear their chains of office.  Civic robes are only worn at major civic occasions such as Remembrance Sunday and the wearing of robes is only at the discretion of the full Council. 

For more information please contact the Mayor's secretary on 028 91 278025 or alternatively via email on: mayors.office@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk