The High Sheriff of Belfast is a title and position which was created in 1900 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, with Sir James Henderson the first holder.
The current high sheriff is Councillor Fiona McAteer, who took office in January 2025.
Today, the office is now largely symbolic, with few formal duties other than deputising for the Lord Mayor of Belfast at official events.
Irish Nationalists and Republican council members generally do not allow their names to go forward for the nomination, as the post is seen as a reflection of the city's imperialist past.
Appointments are made annually by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who asks the outgoing high sheriff and Belfast City Council to suggest the names of three people who are deemed suitable to hold the position.