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 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
- 1764–1765 and 1776–1777 Thomas Smyth MP and Colonel of Limerick Militia
- 1831–1832 John Vereker, 3rd Viscount Gort, MP and later Irish Peer
- 1885–1887 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
- 1905–1907 Michael Joyce, nationalist MP, leader of Irish National League, founder of Garryowen Football Club
- 1918–1920 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
- 1921–1923 Stephen M. O'Mara, republican politician, later Fianna Fail member of the Council of State
- 1928–1930 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]
- 1951–1952 and 1969–1970 Stephen Coughlan, Labour Party TD
- 1954–1957, 1967–1968 and 1976–1977 Ted Russell, Independent and later Fine Gael politician, TD and Senator,
- 1961–1962 Donogh O'Malley, Fianna Fail Minister for Education and Health, introduced free secondary education up to Intermediate Certificate
- 1962–1964 Frances Condell, first elected woman Mayor
- 1973–1974 Michael Lipper, Democratic Labour and Labour Party TD
- 1974–1975 Pat Kennedy, Fine Gael Senator
- 1975–1976 Thady Coughlan, Labour Party, aged 24, youngest Mayor since 1842
- 1977–1978 and 1984–1985 Frank Prendergast Labour Party TD
- 1982–1983 Tony Bromell, Fianna Fail Senator
- 1991–1992 and 1995–1996 Jim Kemmy, Labour Party TD
- 1993–1994 Jan O'Sullivan, later Labour Party Senator, TD, Minister for Education and Skills
- 2009–2010 Kevin Kiely, Fine Gael councillor
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".