Baby Pereppadan Elected Mayor of South Dublin County Council

Fine Gael councillor Baby Pereppadan has been elected as the new Mayor of South Dublin County Council. Cllr Pereppadan, a father of two who has lived in Tallaght for 17 years, made headlines as the first Indian-born councillor in the council’s history.

The Tallaght South councillor was elected during the local authority’s annual general meeting, and independent councillor Alan Hayes from Palmerstown was elected deputy mayor. This meeting marked the first session of the newly elected members since the Local Elections two weeks ago.

At the recent local elections, Cllr Pereppadan drew significant attention by securing his third consecutive term representing Tallaght South. Notably, his son Britto was elected for the first time as a Fine Gael councillor for Tallaght Central, making headlines as a unique father-son duo in the council.

Another candidate for County Mayor, Cllr Madeleine Johannsson from People Before Profit, also ran for the position. However, Cllr Pereppadan won with a majority vote of 23.

“Thank you to my colleagues who have entrusted me with this responsibility,” said Cllr Pereppadan. “I won’t let you down. This position is not just a title. It’s a commitment to the residents of South Dublin to listen, advocate, and work tirelessly for the betterment of our community.”

He expressed his eagerness to work across party lines and collaborate with council staff to make South Dublin a more inclusive place to live, work, and raise a family. His friends and family joined him in the chamber, including his son, Cllr Britto.

Cllr Britto, currently in his second year of medical studies at Tallaght University Hospital, spoke to the Irish Independent during the local elections, stating that his father was his “biggest inspiration.” He recalled, “He moved to this country and decided to serve people, and when he ran for the first time in 2009, I was just 10. I don’t think I knew what I was doing, but I remember helping him hand out leaflets and knock on doors.”

The Pereppadan father-and-son team is dedicated to addressing critical community issues such as safety, housing, and infrastructure, responding to the electorate’s concerns.

Cllr Pereppadan’s election as Mayor marks a significant milestone in his career and underscores his commitment to serving the community of South Dublin, aiming for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all residents.