As Green Party TD Brian Leddin saunters through Limerick city, the sound of a car horn accompanies his journey, a reflection of the upcoming election for Ireland’s first directly elected mayor. A seemingly sarcastic endorsement emerges from a motorist, to which Leddin jovially responds.
Limerick, an expanse home to approximately 210,000 inhabitants, has a uniquely significant choice to make on the 7th of June. The same day local councils and the European Parliament elections take place, Limerick’s population will also be selecting their mayor to head a council that serves the entirety of the city and county. This significant development trails five years behind a plebiscite advocating for the initiation of the elected mayor role. Unfortunately, similar motions in Cork and Waterford were unsuccessful.
The position comes with an annual remuneration package just above €154,000, personnel of five, and an €8 million budget intended for mayoral initiatives and projects. The mayor’s authority is most palpable in proposing the council’s yearly budget still ultimately subject to councillors’ approval—undeniably significant accounting with €249 million allocated for operational services and €460 million meant for infrastructure works like housing and roads in the 2024 preliminary budget.
Moreover, the newly chosen mayor will be tasked with originating the five-year Local Development Plan with the privilege of attending scheduled annual meetings with Cabinet Ministers. Nonetheless, the role will not mimic a North American-style mayor with substantial influence over sectors like policing, public transportation, and education.
Local Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan acknowledged a common sentiment of disappointment last year concerning the legislation supporting the office, suggesting the role needed enough delegated power to rise above the mere formality of attending ceremonial events. Neither Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, nor Labour have revealed their candidates as of yet.
Leddin (44) advocates for the position, insisting that it could wield significant influence in addressing two major local challenges: healthcare and housing. He argues that the ongoing “crisis” in the University Hospital Limerick’s emergency unit could be brought to the Minister’s attention directly by a well-mandated mayor. In Leddin’s view, it would be unwise for any Minister to dismiss anyone who stands for 210,000 citizens, as it would generate backlash for both them and their party.
Regarding housing, Leddin suggests the mayor could suggest amendments to the development plan that would “rezone for additional housing in appropriate locations”. He advocates for greater population density in the city centre and more broadly, views Limerick as a potential balance against Dublin’s dominance. Leddin contends the mayoral office presents the chance to strategize for such a vision.
The mayoral position is also developing and will be reassessed after three years for its effectiveness and potential for more devolution of power.
However, the mayoral office’s powers, especially in relation to housing, have been questioned by the People Before Profit’s nominee, Ruairí Fahy. He is suspicious that the Government has “designed the role for failure”. Fahy (32) points out that a new Local Development Plan will not be implemented for four years, and any zoning suggestions would need to comply with national regulations.
Despite these bounds, Fahy, who plans to accept an industrial average wage if chosen, has made “enhancing trade union rights” a top priority. He proposes that firms collaborating with unions should receive an advantage in council contract bids. Given the chance, he wishes to “revive the spirit of the 1919 Limerick Soviet”.
Perhaps the most notorious candidate is former Department of Finance secretary general, John Moran, who is campaigning independently. He envisions using the office as a base for his RHH institute, a think tank purposed to address nationwide issues “from a perspective outside of Dublin”.
Original Text: In a recent podcast, the challenges facing University Hospital Limerick were discussed. Moran, who previously worked on the hospital’s building project, referred to it as “a bit of a chemo project”. Last year, he received the “all clear” after his cancer diagnosis in 2022.
Asked why he wants to run for mayor, Moran states his passion for making a difference, especially in his hometown Limerick. At 58 years old, he doesn’t want the new mayor’s office to reflect failure, hoping it can potentially serve as a template for other locations to de-centralise the Irish government.
Moran emphasised that the authority to control the budget is greatly substantial and should mirror the public’s desires when choosing a mayor. As an alumnus in public policy and financial matters, he perceived that he could make a difference in that role. Moran assured that he would vacate his consulting work if he was elected, including his positions on the boards of Shannon Airport and the Limerick Economic Forum.
Dee Ryan, Fianna Fáil’s candidate and outgoing chief executive of Limerick Chamber, identified health, housing, and economic development as key issues. Ryan admitted that these sectors are not directly under the mayor’s authority, but asserted that the mayor can play a critical role in facilitating and advocating for government services.
At 48 years old, she suggested revamping the educational system, expressing an interest in equipping all county-based high school students with foundational skills in driving, sewing, and cooking. She recently made the news due to old social media posts discovered where she criticised Fianna Fáil and its leader Micheál Martin. Prior to Fianna Fáil, she was a member of the Labour Party and before that, Fine Gael.
She expresses that her perceptions have shifted and Fianna Fáil is unquestionably the most suitable option for her, she was influenced by Martin’s tenure as taoiseach during the COVID-19 outbreak, which prompted her to reconsider her stance about the party. The mayoral nominee for Fianna Fáil from Limerick, who once took issue with Micheál Martin, stated that her viewpoints have ‘progressed’.
Then there’s Helen O’Donnell, another individual from a Fine Gael lineage, who was the spouse of the late TD, minister, and MEP, Tom O’Donnell. Despite backing current MEP Seán Kelly’s bid to represent Fine Gael just recently, she’s standing as an Independent. O’Donnell, 63, counts Kelly as a close comrade and he was already aware she would initiate her independent mayoral campaign the next day.
When prompted about her distancing from Fine Gael, she posits that the mayor’s role should transcend party biases. She reasons that alignment with a single party could weaken the position in a council comprised of 40 members. For many years, O’Donnell operated a catering firm in Limerick, was actively involved in the Tidy Towns initiative, and previously chaired the all-island body Safe Food. She pledges that she will bring this wealth of experience to her mayorship, as Limerick is in “desperate need of leadership, vision, and direction”.
Recently, Sarah Beasley of Aontú and public health scientist Dr Laura Keyes, a candidate for the Green Left Party Rabharta, have joined the competition. Beasley is noted for her homeless outreach endeavors, commended by party leader Peadar Tóibín.
Additionally, there’s Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan, 41, who spent her childhood in London with her Irish parents. Her voice has attracted some online ridicule since her family moved back to Limerick during her teenage years. O’Donovan has previously encountered a dispute with her opponent in the mayoral election, Leddin, who had to apologise after demeaning comments he made about O’Donovan were revealed last year in a WhatsApp group. She rejected his apology then.
O’Donovan highlighted that within Limerick, community safety remains a substantial concern. Additionally, the unavailability of public facilities such as swimming pools is an issue. She intends to prioritise these matters as mayor. She holds the view that the council should extend more assistance, encompassing social workers and representatives for individuals looking for accommodation. Despite the criticism concerning the confines of the mayoral authority, she firmly asserts that increased democracy is favourable. When she cast her first vote at 18, it was for Ken Livingstone, the inaugural directly elected mayor of London. The mayor defined the role according to their preferences, a situation she clearly remembers and believes the same arguments were prevalent during that time.