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
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
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.
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
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]
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]
^"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.
