Mayor of Limerick
The office of Mayor of the City and County of Limerick is currently the title used by the chairperson of Limerick City and County Council.[3] Prior to the establishment of the council, the Mayor of Limerick was the chairperson of Limerick City Council.[4] The office was originally established in 1195 and reinforced by a charter issued in 1197.[1]
| Mayor of the City and County of Limerick | |
|---|---|
| Méara Chathair agus Chontae Luimnigh | |
| Style | Mayor |
| Residence | none |
| Appointer | Limerick City and County Council |
| Term length | 1 year |
| Inaugural holder | John Spafford[1] |
| Formation | 1195 |
| Salary | €50,000[2] |
| Website | Official website |
Election to the office
The Mayor is elected to office annually by councillors of Limerick City and County Council from amongst its members.[5] There is currently no popular vote, but in May 2019 a plebiscite was held during the local elections which voted in favour of a directly elected mayor, with the first expected to be elected in 2022.[6] Current practice is 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 is repeated the following June, unless the same person is given a second consecutive term.
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]
Selected list of mayors
- 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 Cummann na nGael 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[7]
- 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
References
- "Mayoralty of Limerick" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- "Former lord mayor hits out at criticism of €120k package". 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- "Mayor of the City and County of Limerick – Limerick.ie". Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- Council, Limerick City. "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.ie. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- "Michael Keyes". Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.