0:00:02 > 0:00:07In 2011, Belfast City Council elected its youngest ever Lord Mayor,
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Niall O'Donnghaile.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15I'm not here because I won a raffle. I'm here because I have a mandate.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17This was going to be a big year.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20The MTV awards and the Titanic centenary
0:00:20 > 0:00:25would put Belfast and Niall on a world stage.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30As a film maker, I wanted to find out how a 26-year-old with no experience
0:00:30 > 0:00:32of political office would cope.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36You think it's all MTV awards and wining and dining -
0:00:36 > 0:00:38that's what I've to go through. Look.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41You've probably noticed by now that I'm English,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43but I have been living here for six years.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46The opportunity to film behind the scenes
0:00:46 > 0:00:50on such a momentous year was something I jumped at.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53This is where the real craic happens anyway. It's not round there.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56I wanted to discover what motivates
0:00:56 > 0:01:00someone so young to accept such a high profile role. And whether his
0:01:00 > 0:01:04age would enable him to be free from some of the baggage of the past.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07I haven't even had my breakfast yet, and I'm going to eat a poke.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11There are people who have a very fundamental problem with the very
0:01:11 > 0:01:14fact that there's a Republican in this position.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17They can't get there head around it. They don't ever want to see it.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20This man wants on television, so make sure you get him on the TV.
0:01:20 > 0:01:21Oh, no. I just don't want to get wet.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45It's the night of MTV's European Music Awards, the EMAs.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50Tonight, Snow Patrol are playing a free concert outside City Hall,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52and the world's biggest pop stars are
0:01:52 > 0:01:54gathering at the Odyssey arena for the ceremony.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58I asked Justin Bieber last night, twice, if he wanted to wear the
0:01:58 > 0:02:00chain. He refused the first time and the second time he said,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03"It looks too heavy." And he's right.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06- I seen him yesterday...- Where did you see him?- Outside the hotel.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11- There's me and Bieber.- Oh! - I've more of them here.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13GIRLS GASP There he is checking out the chain.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Oh, my God.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21There's a really good atmosphere in Belfast tonight.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22And I can't help thinking,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26"This is the event that a young mayor was meant for."
0:02:26 > 0:02:27We all know Belfast is buzzing.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30We know it's a great city and a great place to be. Now we're seeing
0:02:30 > 0:02:33the fruits of that. Great night. A party atmosphere around the city.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38The message that's being projected to the world is that Belfast is now a
0:02:38 > 0:02:41vibrant city that has put the Troubles behind.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Of course, life is never that simple.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53Coffee? tea?
0:02:57 > 0:02:59How long have you lived here?
0:02:59 > 0:03:00A few years now...
0:03:01 > 0:03:04- ..just coming two years. - 'Niall has invited me round
0:03:04 > 0:03:06'to his flat, in the Short Strand.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09'He's lived in this area of East Belfast all his life,
0:03:09 > 0:03:11'but for security reasons I've
0:03:11 > 0:03:14'been told not to film any shots of the outside.'
0:03:14 > 0:03:15I'll give you the Superman mug.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19When I worked in a school the kids bought me that when I left.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24At least somebody thinks it of me, you know?
0:03:24 > 0:03:26If all else fails. If all else goes to the wall.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30You were a classroom assistant?
0:03:30 > 0:03:35Yeah. Classroom assistant, fairly shortly after I left university.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38How come you didn't go into teaching?
0:03:38 > 0:03:42I done politics at uni, so there weren't huge amounts of options when
0:03:42 > 0:03:46you left. That option presented itself - it was in an Irish-medium
0:03:46 > 0:03:51school so I thought, "Better this than going to sign on."
0:03:51 > 0:03:55That sounds really bad. I don't mean it as cynical as that - I was
0:03:55 > 0:04:00delighted to do it and wanted to do it then. But it wasn't what I had
0:04:00 > 0:04:03envisaged going into, prior going into university.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Niall's first job in politics was in
0:04:12 > 0:04:15the Sinn Fein press office at Stormont.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17He was there for three years, before
0:04:17 > 0:04:21standing for election as a Sinn Fein councillor for the Short Strand.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24It's always very weird, when you grow up in an area like the Strand,
0:04:24 > 0:04:29to see your name painted on a gable wall, but then also have to walk.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32I live in this area. I do my shopping in this area. I have the
0:04:32 > 0:04:36occasional pint in this area. So to walk from your house to the bar, and
0:04:36 > 0:04:39pass your neighbours and relatives, and there's your mug on a lamppost.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42It sort of gets to a point where it can be a bit cringeworthy.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Niall was only a councillor for a few weeks
0:04:47 > 0:04:51before he was asked to become Sinn Fein's third ever Lord Mayor.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54The first was Alex Maskey, ten years ago.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Under the D'Hondt system it was Sinn Fein's turn,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00but his year seemed to get off to a bad start.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04The new Deputy Mayor, DUP's Ruth Patterson, appeared to snub him when
0:05:04 > 0:05:06he leant over to offer his congratulations.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09The press made a lot of this.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13It's an unfortunate tone to start this year as mayor, but it's not
0:05:13 > 0:05:15a tone I want to set. It's not a tone that I'm particularly
0:05:15 > 0:05:17caught up on.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Shortly after, he was back in the news
0:05:19 > 0:05:22when he took down some pictures of the Royal Family and put up
0:05:22 > 0:05:27Republican images of the United Irish Men and the 1916 Proclamation.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32The problem was that when I came in here first the imagery and
0:05:32 > 0:05:35symbolism in this parlour was exclusive.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Niall's first real test came at the end of June when
0:05:40 > 0:05:44his constituency came under attack from loyalists groups.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48The Short Stand is a nationalist
0:05:48 > 0:05:51community in the middle of a strongly loyalist East Belfast.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57And it was a reminder for me of the ugly side of division in the city.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02There was upwards of 100 masked men throwing petrol bombs, paint bombs,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04bricks at homes, at various locations.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06- BOOM - You can hear that. That's what we've
0:06:06 > 0:06:09been dealing with since early on this evening.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14The streets have now been cleaned up and as Niall takes me on guided tour
0:06:14 > 0:06:16I'm interested in finding out what
0:06:16 > 0:06:18it's like to grow up in an area like this.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Are you a Man Utd supporter? Ooh!
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Growing up here, this was an area that was heavily impacted.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26There was a lot of people here who would have went through prison,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28who would have been actively involved in the conflict.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Operations and attacks carried out by the IRA wouldn't have been
0:06:32 > 0:06:36unusual. It was a very active Republican community.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- We're looking at the peace walls, are we?- Yes.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47You know, other areas might have the odd peace wall, as they are referred
0:06:47 > 0:06:51to, but as we head round, this area is surrounded on all sides
0:06:51 > 0:06:54by them. And, for many, we are hemmed in.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58That's why we do have that very village mentality.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02- Would you love to see these ripped down one day?- Of course I would.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05But I'm very conscious as somebody who lives here and is a member of a
0:07:05 > 0:07:08community that's affected by these.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Ultimately, it's the people on both
0:07:09 > 0:07:11sides of the wall that will make the decision.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33It's Remembrance Sunday. I thought that Niall might be here, and I was
0:07:33 > 0:07:35interested to find out how he handled the event.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38But I was soon told he wasn't attending, and that the
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Deputy Lord Mayor would be representing the city in his place.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Well, members of the armed forces come from every community in Northern Ireland.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Religion doesn't matter to them. They're serving their queen and
0:07:53 > 0:07:55their country, and they're proud to do so.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Would it not be nice to see the Mayor here today though?
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Be nice for Belfast, the whole city...
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- to remember together...?- I'm the Deputy Lord Mayor, and I'm
0:08:06 > 0:08:10representative of all of the people in Belfast here today.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12BAGPIPES BLARE
0:08:13 > 0:08:18A few days later, I asked Niall why he felt unable to attend.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I think it would be remiss of me,
0:08:21 > 0:08:26given the role, not to at least think about taking part.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Three out of four of my great grandfathers fought in the
0:08:30 > 0:08:33First World War were members of the British army.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36I did lay a laurel wreath on the first of July at the anniversary of
0:08:36 > 0:08:42the Battle of the Somme, so I think it's unfair to say that I haven't taken some steps.
0:08:42 > 0:08:48As it stands today, it is very difficult because the current
0:08:48 > 0:08:51ceremony, the current process of Remembrance, isn't inclusive.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55It doesn't acknowledge the role that the British army played in
0:08:55 > 0:08:59the conflict here. In many ways it actually glorifies it.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03And for many people in this city, that is very fundamentally,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05at a human level, hurtful...
0:09:05 > 0:09:06and exclusionary.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14For many here that have lost loved ones that have been targeted by
0:09:14 > 0:09:16the British army, whether through collusion or directly,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18I'm their mayor...
0:09:18 > 0:09:21as well as a mayor for the unionist community.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Looking around me, I can see why Niall might feel uncomfortable.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29I'm starting to realise that
0:09:29 > 0:09:32inclusivity means different things to different people.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48- Justin? How you doing? I'm Niall. Pleased to meet you.- And you too.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51You're causing me a lot of problems, I have to tell you.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Where's Mr Tumble?
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Niall's duties today are shared by Justin Fletcher.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Better known as Mr Tumble.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03All these kids don't want to see me, they want to see Justin.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It's the start of a busy few weeks of engagements.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10- ALL:- Three, two, one...
0:10:10 > 0:10:14As I watch Niall deal so comfortably with everyone around him, I can see
0:10:14 > 0:10:17that in many ways he is ideally suited to this role.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20I'm proud today to officially announce the return of the Tall Ships.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25His non-appearance at Remembrance seems to have been tolerated.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29As the week pass, it looks that Niall's year is going well.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31And then this happened.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Good afternoon. Unionists have called on the Sinn Fein Lord Mayor
0:10:36 > 0:10:40of Belfast, Niall O'Donnghaile, to publicly apologise or resign for
0:10:40 > 0:10:44refusing to present an award to an army cadet this week.
0:10:44 > 0:10:45The issue is likely to be raised at
0:10:45 > 0:10:47tonight's monthly meeting of the council.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Niall's decision not to present the young cadet with an award is regarded
0:10:57 > 0:11:00by many as a step too far.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03And outside City Hall people have come to protest.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05He's to represent both sides of Northern Ireland. If he's not
0:11:05 > 0:11:09willing to do that then he shouldn't be Lord Mayor. I'm a member of the
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Catholic nationalist community and I'm in the army cadet force.
0:11:12 > 0:11:13HORNS BLAST
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Over the last few days, opponents
0:11:20 > 0:11:22have been calling for Niall's resignation.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31This afternoon he made a public apology for any offence he caused.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34He's hoping it will be enough to save his career.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36It was an issue that I was caught out with. It wasn't one I was
0:11:36 > 0:11:42expecting. In order to avoid any undue sensitivities to either party,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I took a decision that it would be appropriate to give out a number of
0:11:45 > 0:11:49the awards and for someone else, in terms of the VIP party, to give out
0:11:49 > 0:11:53a number as well. It's important to say that in doing that,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55it wasn't my intention to offend anyone.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Tonight is going to be tough.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06I'm wondering if he's nervous.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11I think it's fair to say that you'd be nervous about every council meeting.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14You never know what's going to happen. We'll see how tonight goes.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16We'll see how it goes.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20We'll just have to wait now for the bell to ring, and for us all to go in.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Mahatma Gandhi says, "I want my window to the winds of the world,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25"but I don't want to be swept off my feet."
0:12:28 > 0:12:31- BELL RINGS - OK, David? See you soon.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36What we're here to do tonight is actually deal with the facts
0:12:36 > 0:12:40and hopefully move on. But the reality is that had I presented
0:12:40 > 0:12:43this particular award to a representative of the army cadet
0:12:43 > 0:12:46force, then another large section of the community may have been
0:12:46 > 0:12:47as equally offended.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Lord Mayor, there is no question that you caused offence.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Look outside. Look how many people took to the streets tonight
0:12:54 > 0:12:58to come an register their protest against you and your decision.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02We need to hear that you apologise to this council and to the way in
0:13:02 > 0:13:06which you defaced the honourable office of Lord Mayor in this city.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10As chairman of the council Niall is not allowed to interrupt.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15Tonight, he has sit and take it, from both sides of the chamber.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18You absolutely snub people.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22And, Lord Mayor, I don't know how you're going to roll back from this.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26What you have done is to render you,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29in vast sways of this city,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32utterly untouchable.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35You and I have had a perfectly good,
0:13:35 > 0:13:39professional working relationship...
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Although Niall's told me they've been getting on better recently,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45the Deputy Lord Mayor is particularly scathing.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48You're a young man. You have a lot to learn.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52And you need to learn this lesson.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56You do not disrespect anyone...
0:13:57 > 0:14:00..whether it be because they are Protestant,
0:14:00 > 0:14:05Catholic, Hindu, Muslim or anything else.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Or whether they are a member of Her Majesty's armed forces.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Live it and learn it, Lord Mayor.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16This will not go away.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Thank you, Deputy Lord Mayor.
0:14:21 > 0:14:27It was laughable. People who preach to me how to be a mayor were the
0:14:27 > 0:14:31same people, some of them, who reigned over this place when it was
0:14:31 > 0:14:33that epicentre of bigotry.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36With the greatest respect to them, I won't be lectured by them, in terms
0:14:36 > 0:14:39of issues of equality and representation.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Do you regret that decision that night?
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Do you wish you'd given the award now?
0:14:43 > 0:14:45To be honest, I wish it all happened differently.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Christmas has come to City Hall.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03After the strain of the last few weeks, I'm sure Niall is looking
0:15:03 > 0:15:08forward to the break - a chance to reminisce about happier times.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11When we had the MTV awards at City Hall, I thought,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13"All right, it mightn't just be
0:15:13 > 0:15:17"snow on the lawn, but it's Snow Patrol on the lawn."
0:15:17 > 0:15:19I thought it's reflective of the new Belfast.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23I thought some of the colours were a bit Christmassy as well, so I think
0:15:23 > 0:15:26we'll get away with it. I think the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Cork will
0:15:26 > 0:15:30be terribly jealous when they see this, but there you go.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44It's the New Year and Niall is getting his fortnightly haircut.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46I've asked if I can tag along.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50Right, I'm away up. I'll see you after.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54There are no hairdressers in the Short Strand, so instead of going
0:15:54 > 0:15:56somewhere else in East Belfast, Niall
0:15:56 > 0:15:59travels west to Pat's on the Falls Road.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02- How is your form, all right?- All right. Niall, yourself? Busy man?
0:16:02 > 0:16:03Busy enough...
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Loyal customers, like Niall, get to use the room upstairs.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10How long has Niall been coming here?
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- From when he was a baby.- For as long as I was getting my hair cut, this
0:16:13 > 0:16:17man's been cutting it. He's watched it turn from a lovely shade of black
0:16:17 > 0:16:19- to grey.- That's understandable.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23- This year more than others?- This year more than others? I don't know.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27- Maybe. Maybe.- Was there any dodgy haircuts in your teenage years?
0:16:27 > 0:16:32- Erm...- Yeah. He had a bowl once.- I didn't have a bowl.- A step.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34A step? Aye, I had a step all right.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39I find it remarkable that Niall has had just one barber all his life.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Compared to a lot of people his age, he seems incredibly
0:16:42 > 0:16:44settled and set in his ways.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- You ever thought about living away from Belfast?- Aye, of course.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51But you go down a certain way, and I suppose after I left university
0:16:51 > 0:16:53I went straight into work.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I mean at this stage I couldn't see it. I don't know if Sinn Fein would
0:16:56 > 0:17:00- let me.- Doubt it. Doubt it very much.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01Man of the future.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- There you go, Niall.- Am I on fire, Pat?- If you don't get a girl
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- tonight, you get your money back. - I'm telling you.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12That's quite a deal. You've never said that before.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Never a problem before.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21I'm keen to find out more about what makes Niall tick,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24so, today, I've come with him to the open day at his
0:17:24 > 0:17:25former secondary school.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Colaiste Feirste is an Irish-medium secondary school.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37It moved to it's current site in 1999, but when Niall started
0:17:37 > 0:17:39they occupied a floor of the Culturlann.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53At the end of the day, can I claim to have done some good?
0:17:53 > 0:17:54I'd say so.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59Niall's former principle, Garai Mac Roibeaird, is also here today.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03I tell people I went to a hedge school. That's what I tell people.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06I'm very proud of that because it was more than a school.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09What other school has, all right, it probably wouldn't be allowed now,
0:18:09 > 0:18:14but what other school has a thriving cafe and bookshop below it?
0:18:14 > 0:18:16And a pirate radio station above it?
0:18:16 > 0:18:20You know? A theatre company hosting dramas down the hall from it...
0:18:20 > 0:18:24It obvious Niall's school experiences made a huge impression.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27He was part of a movement fighting for recognition,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30and I'm beginning to get a sense of where his journey to
0:18:30 > 0:18:31City Hall started.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34You can't have a school encourage you to develop as a person and
0:18:34 > 0:18:37be confident and be out there and part of your community, involved in
0:18:37 > 0:18:41your community, unless they are too.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44We were lucky in the sense that we were being taught by
0:18:44 > 0:18:48activists - who were community activists, political activists,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51cultural activists - people who were out there.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54More often than not, we would go on trips to protest about funding
0:18:54 > 0:18:58and lack of facilities. So it's no wonder I ended up going
0:18:58 > 0:19:01down the road I went down. But that's OK. There's nothing wrong
0:19:01 > 0:19:05with that. Sometimes that's discouraged. Sometimes that's almost
0:19:05 > 0:19:08frowned upon. It's not very trendy or PC for young people to be
0:19:08 > 0:19:10politically or socially or culturally active.
0:19:18 > 0:19:19It's the last day of March.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26The biggest day of Niall's year and possibly his career to date.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29We're at the bottom of the M3. We're less than five minutes away.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Do you need us to hang back a bit?
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Today is the official opening of the Titanic visitor centre.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36There it is.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41It's the start of over a fortnight of Titanic centenary celebrations.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43The council has invested £10 million,
0:19:43 > 0:19:48and the words Niall chooses today will be repeated around the world.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52How are you feeling right now, Niall?
0:19:52 > 0:19:57Grand. It's a nice day. It's an important and significant day.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00But...
0:20:00 > 0:20:01it's...
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Yeah, I don't know.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11My family, looking back generations, lived in the shadow of the shipyard.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14They didn't work in it. You know, there were Catholic workers
0:20:14 > 0:20:18who were chased out of it. So it isn't all rosy, and I don't think
0:20:18 > 0:20:20we should forget that.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24I'm not saying that equally we should focus in on that either.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27We're in a different place. We're in a changed Belfast.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30The very fact that it's going to be a Short Strand man standing
0:20:30 > 0:20:33as Lord Mayor in Titanic Belfast when it opens indicates
0:20:33 > 0:20:35the kind of changes we've made.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46In my mind, Niall's speech today will be incredibly difficult.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Not only has he got to strike the right tone between celebration and
0:20:51 > 0:20:55commemoration, but he will also be compared to experienced political
0:20:55 > 0:20:58orators like Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Lord Mayor of Belfast.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04As he approaches the podium I notice that he's left his notes behind.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06NIALL SPEAKS GAELIC
0:21:06 > 0:21:10My great grandmother was from Chemical Street - just two minutes
0:21:10 > 0:21:12down the road in Ballymacarrett.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16And she brought her first born son, Willie, down to Mountpottinger Road
0:21:16 > 0:21:17and watched as the bow of the
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Titanic grew up and grew up, further and
0:21:20 > 0:21:24further into the fine innovation that it became.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32You know, I thought it would better just to speak and speak about
0:21:32 > 0:21:35the city, speak about the story, and I think we have done that.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38There's a real good buzz and no doubt it will last.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44The Titanic festival is a real
0:21:44 > 0:21:47opportunity for the people of Belfast to come together.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51After the celebrations there's a chance for reflection...
0:21:51 > 0:21:55with the unveiling of a new memorial at City Hall
0:21:55 > 0:21:57to the victims of the disaster.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17After spending so much time with Niall, I'm starting to
0:22:17 > 0:22:20notice other positive results of cross community co-operation.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24The World Irish Dancing Championships
0:22:24 > 0:22:27at the Waterfront bring 20,000 people to the city,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30and its largely due to work done by Ruth Patterson.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33She still won't give me the interview I've asked for, but it seems that she
0:22:33 > 0:22:37and Niall have managed to put some of their differences behind them.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40- Do you wear hard shoes?- No. I'll do my seven steps.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45A few weeks later, Niall launches his suicide prevention initiative with a
0:22:45 > 0:22:49conference for community groups and agencies from right across Belfast.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53When I came in the office last year, one of the first issues, probably on
0:22:53 > 0:22:56account of my age, that was raised with me was the issue of young
0:22:56 > 0:22:58people in particular taking their own lives.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04Despite it's serious subject matter, I find the day really encouraging.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08People are working together at all levels,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11but there are still reminders of the city's divided past.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21It's Easter Sunday, and I'm on the Falls Road.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Niall has invited me to see to the annual Republican commemoration,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26marking the anniversary of the 1916 Uprising.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32There's always a fantastic crowd at this. I'm on call here, but it's
0:23:32 > 0:23:34good to see you. I'll see you further up along the route.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Today, he's representing the National Graves Association.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48But I'm wondering if he is also here as Lord Mayor.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I'm the Mayor. It's difficult to disassociate that from me.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56But you're not wearing your chain. Would you like to be?
0:23:58 > 0:24:00I think in terms of the chain, I think that will happen.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03I think that needs to happen. I think that will happen
0:24:03 > 0:24:06pretty soon, but we'll get there. We'll get to that stage where the
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Republican dead are given their respectful place and
0:24:08 > 0:24:12acknowledged in their rightful place, alongside all of those who
0:24:12 > 0:24:14have died as a result of the conflict here.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23I naively presumed that today was just about marking the
0:24:23 > 0:24:25birth of the Irish nation.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30I hadn't really considered how I would feel watching wreaths being
0:24:30 > 0:24:33laid in the memory of members of the IRA.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43I can't help making parallels with Remembrance Sunday a while back.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Niall told me his problem with Remembrance was that it didn't
0:24:47 > 0:24:49acknowledge the hurt caused by the British Army.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58But by the same token, why doesn't he have a problem attending a ceremony
0:24:58 > 0:25:01that fails to acknowledge the hurt caused by the IRA?
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Just like I was at the Cenotaph,
0:25:07 > 0:25:10today I am surrounded by people who have lost loved ones.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13I can't help thinking it would be
0:25:13 > 0:25:17better if there was a more inclusive way of remembering the dead.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31It Niall's last day. He's back in the Short Strand,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34opening a child care centre round the corner from his flat.
0:25:37 > 0:25:4127-year-old DUP councillor, Gavin Robinson is also here.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43He was one of Niall's most vocal critics
0:25:43 > 0:25:47when Niall refused to present an award to an army cadet.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50In a few hours, Gavin will become the next Lord Mayor of Belfast.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13Hmm. I'm actually getting quite a few nice messages on Twitter today.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Maybe that's cos they're getting rid of me. I don't know.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19But I'm getting a few nice things said.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Are you feeling a bit sad now or are you feeling quite delighted...?
0:26:28 > 0:26:34I'm not delighted. It's a bit like a last day of school.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40I'm ready for it. You know? On to the next one. On to the next
0:26:40 > 0:26:42challenge. It's somebody else's turn.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46There's still a couple of hours to go until the DUP take over the
0:26:46 > 0:26:50parlour and I'm surprised to see that the Queen is already back
0:26:50 > 0:26:51in prime position.
0:26:54 > 0:27:00- It didn't take long, Niall?- Well, I decided to do it. I thought that
0:27:00 > 0:27:01could be my last initiative in office.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06It's not my job to take initiatives around equality for other people,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08I took my initiatives.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12We'll see what's been done, and I'm conscious that the person
0:27:12 > 0:27:15coming in the office after me isn't a Republican - they're a Unionist.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18This is how it was when I came in, you know?
0:27:18 > 0:27:20My ma always taught me to leave a place the way you found it.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22So that's what I'm doing.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27David, I'm away to my meeting.
0:27:31 > 0:27:32OK. Jack, before I go...
0:27:34 > 0:27:35Well done.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39For me Niall's decision to take down
0:27:39 > 0:27:43the pictures represents the struggle he's had all year.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45The Right Honourable Lord Mayor.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47A struggle to assert his beliefs,
0:27:47 > 0:27:49while respecting other people's points of view.
0:27:50 > 0:27:56After spending so long watching Niall carry out his civic duties. I do
0:27:56 > 0:27:59think his willingness to accept the role of Lord Mayor came from a
0:27:59 > 0:28:01genuine desire to improve a city he loves.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06But there must have been times when he felt a long way from the community
0:28:06 > 0:28:09activism that's such a core part of his life.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14I asked at the beginning if a young
0:28:14 > 0:28:17mayor, might be free from the baggage of the past.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20The answer is no. Perhaps no-one is, but I now realise that
0:28:20 > 0:28:23this baggage doesn't necessarily
0:28:23 > 0:28:26prevent people working towards a better future.
0:28:26 > 0:28:27What do you give yourself out of ten?
0:28:27 > 0:28:31What would I give myself out of ten? Most of my school reports usually
0:28:31 > 0:28:35said, "He'd do better if he'd just shut up. If he would stop talking."
0:28:35 > 0:28:38Maybe there's a lesson in that - maybe I should stop talking.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42- Cheers, Niall. Thanks.- That it?- Yeah.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd