Mayor of Limerick
| 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 |
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]
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
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- Mayors of Limerick (city)
- Lists of political office-holders in the Republic of Ireland
- 1195 establishments in Europe
- County Limerick-related lists