Mayor of Limerick
| Mayor of Limerick | |
|---|---|
| Irish: Méara Luimnigh | |
since 21 June 2024 | |
| Style | Mayor |
| Type | Council leader |
| Status | Chief executive officer |
| Seat | City Hall, Limerick |
| Appointer | Electorate of Limerick |
| Term length | 5 years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | John Spafford[1] |
| Formation | 1195 |
| Salary | €151,856[2] |
| Website | Official website |
The Mayor of Limerick is the head of the local government of the City and County of Limerick. It is a directly elected office with a five-year term. Following the 2024 Limerick mayoral election, John Moran was inaugurated as the first office-holder on 21 June 2024.
Prior to June 2024, it was the title used by the chairperson of Limerick City and County Council.[3] Prior to the amalgamation of the city and county councils in 2014, the mayor was the chairperson of Limerick City Council.[4] The office was originally established in 1195 and reinforced by a charter issued in 1197.[1]
Election to the office prior to June 2024
[edit]Before the introduction of the executive mayor system, the ceremonial mayor was elected to office annually by councillors of Limerick City and County Council from amongst its members.[5] The practice was for the term of office to begin in June[3] with the former Mayor presenting the Chain of Office to the incoming Mayor, thus formally inaugurating a new term. The process was repeated the following June, unless the same person was given a second consecutive term. Under the previous system, the mayor was the chairperson of the City and County Council.
Directly elected mayor
[edit]In May 2019 a plebiscite was held with the 2019 Limerick City and County Council election in which voters approved the establishment of a directly elected mayor for Limerick City and County by a vote of 52.4%.[6][7] In August 2023, the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 was published.[8] Kieran O'Donnell, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, stated that it was the intention of the government that the election for a directly elected Mayor for Limerick would be held in 2024, at the local elections which was held on 7 June 2024.[9] The Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 was enacted in March 2024.
The first election to the new office took place on 7 June 2024 in conjunction with the 2024 Limerick City and County Council election. John Moran was elected mayor and was inaugurated at a ceremony at Limerick's oldest building, St Mary's Cathedral, on 21 June 2024.[10][11]
Following the inauguration of the first directly-elected mayor, the chief executive of the council was renamed as the director general and the chair of the council became known as the Príomh Chomhairleoir (lit. 'Head Councillor')).[12][13][14]
History of the office
[edit]The office has existed, in one form or another, since it was inaugurated in 1195. The title of Provost was used up to the 14th century.[1]
Selected list of mayors
[edit]
- Thomas Smyth (1764–1765, 1776–1777), MP and Colonel of Limerick Militia
- John Vereker, 3rd Viscount Gort (1831–1832), MP and later Irish Peer
- Stephen O'Mara (1885–1887), nationalist MP and later Cumann na nGaedheal Senator, first nationalist Mayor of Limerick
- John Daly (1899–1901), revolutionary nationalist MP, leading member of Irish Republican Brotherhood involved in 1867 rising
- Michael Joyce (1905–1907), nationalist MP, leader of Irish National League, founder of Garryowen Football Club
- Phons O'Mara (1918–1920), republican, negotiated truce with Limerick Soviet in 1919
- George Clancy (1921), Sinn Féin Mayor shot dead in office by Black and Tans in 1921
- Stephen M. O'Mara (1921–1923), republican politician, later Fianna Fail member of the Council of State
- Michael Keyes (1928–1930), Labour Party TD, Minister for Local Government and Posts and Telegraphs and President of the Irish Trades Union Congress, the first Limerick person to be a cabinet member since independence[15]
- Stephen Coughlan (1951–1952, 1969–1970), Labour Party TD
- Ted Russell (1954–1957, 1967–1968, 1976–1977), Independent and later Fine Gael politician, TD and Senator,
- Donogh O'Malley (1961–1962), Fianna Fail Minister for Education and Health, introduced free secondary education up to Intermediate Certificate
- Frances Condell (1962–1964), first elected woman Mayor
- Michael Lipper (1973–1974), Democratic Labour and Labour Party TD
- Pat Kennedy (1974–1975), Fine Gael Senator
- Thady Coughlan (1975–1976), Labour Party, aged 24, youngest Mayor since 1842
- Frank Prendergast (1977–1978, 1984–1985), Labour Party TD
- Tony Bromell (1982–1983), Fianna Fail Senator
- Jim Kemmy (1991–1992, 1995–1996), Labour Party TD
- Jan O'Sullivan (1993–1994), later Labour Party Senator, TD, Minister for Education and Skills
- Kevin Kiely (2009–2010), Fine Gael councillor
- John Moran (2024–present), first directly-elected mayor
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Mayoralty of Limerick" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "Directly elected mayor of Limerick to be paid almost €152,000 per year". The Irish Times. 4 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Mayor of the City and County of Limerick". Limerick.ie. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "Limerick City Council". Limerick City Council. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ (eISB), electronic Irish Statute Book. "electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB)". Archived from the original on 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ McAllister, Edel (27 May 2019). "Limerick voters will have chance to elect mayor by 2022". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Result of the Direct Election of Mayor Plebiscite for Limerick City and County". Limerick City and County Council. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023". Oireachtas. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Minister O'Donnell Welcomes Publication of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill" (Press release). Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 3 August 2023.
- ^ Martyn, Petula (21 June 2024). "Limerick sees strength in its diversity, says new mayor". RTÉ.ie.
- ^ "First Ever Inauguration of a Directly Elected Mayor of Limerick". Limerick.ie. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Annual Meeting of Limerick City and County Council". Limerick.ie. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Directly elected mayor leads to a big shake-up in council administration". Limerick Leader. 7 June 2024.
- ^ "A New Energy: Mayor of Limerick, John Moran Vested with Chains of Office at Historic Ceremony". Limerick City and County Council. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Michael Keyes". Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.