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 | |
|---|---|
| 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 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
- 1764–65 and 1776–77 Thomas Smyth MP and Colonel of Limerick Militia
- 1831–32 John Vereker, 3rd Viscount Gort, MP and later Irish Peer
- 1885–87 Stephen O'Mara Sr, nationalist MP and later Cummann na nGael Senator, first nationalist Mayor of Limerick
- 1899–1901 John Daly, revolutionary nationalist MP, leading member of Irish Republican Brotherhood involved in 1867 rising
- 1905–07 Michael Joyce, nationalist MP, leader of Irish National League, founder of Garryowen Football Club
- 1918–20 Phons O'Mara, republican, negotiated truce with Limerick Soviet in 1919
- 1921 George Clancy, Sinn Féin Mayor fatally shot in office by Black and Tans in 1921
- 1921–23 Stephen M. O'Mara, republican politician, later Fianna Fail member of the Council of State
- 1928–30 Michael Keyes, 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]
- 1951–52 and 1969–70 Stephen Coughlan, Labour Party TD
- 1954–57, 1967–68 and 1976–77 Ted Russell, Independent and later Fine Gael politician, TD and Senator,
- 1961–62 Donogh O'Malley, Fianna Fail Minister for Education and Health, introduced free secondary education up to Intermediate Certificate
- 1962-64 Frances Condell, first elected woman Mayor
- 1973–74 Michael Lipper, Democratic Labour and Labour Party TD
- 1974–75 Pat Kennedy, Fine Gael Senator
- 1975–76 Thady Coughlan, Labour Party, aged 24, youngest Mayor since 1842
- 1977–78 and 1984–85 Frank Prendergast Labour Party TD
- 1982–83 Tony Bromell, Fianna Fail Senator
- 1991–92 and 1995–96 Jim Kemmy, Labour Party TD
- 1993–94 Jan O'Sullivan, Labour Party Senator, TD, Minister for Education and Skills
- 2009–10 Kevin Kiely, Fine Gael councillor
- 2016–17 Kieran O'Hanlon, Fine Gael, incumbent
References
- http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/mayoralty%2001.pdf
- http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/former-lord-mayor-hits-out-at-criticism-of-120k-package-203688.html
- "Mayor of the City and County of Limerick – Limerick.ie".
- Council, Limerick City. "Limerick City Council".
- (eISB), electronic Irish Statute Book. "electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB)".
- https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2019/0527/1052049-mayor-votes-results/
- "Michael Keyes".