2024 Limerick mayoral election

Last updated

2024 Limerick mayoral election
Flag of Ireland.svg
7 June 2024
2029 →
Turnout51.8%
 
Ind
Ind
 Dee Ryan, Feb 2025 - 54319351063 (cropped).jpg
Candidate John Moran Helen O'Donnell Dee Ryan
Party Independent Independent Fianna Fáil
1st preference18,308 (23.0%)12,903 (16.2%)11,785 (14.8%)
Final count28,451 (35.7%)23,829 (29.9%)Eliminated
 
FG
 Maurice Quinlivan, Dec 2024 (54197347601) (cropped).jpg
Ind
CandidateDaniel Butler Maurice Quinlivan Frankie Daly
Party Fine Gael Sinn Féin Independent
1st preference10,190 (12.8%)8,331 (10.5%)4,574 (5.7%)
Final countEliminatedEliminatedEliminated
Mayor before election

Position established

Elected mayor

John Moran
Independent

An election to decide the first directly elected Mayor of Limerick was held on 7 June 2024, as part of the 2024 Irish local elections. Limerick is the first local authority in Ireland to have directly elected mayor, following a plebiscite held at the previous council election. The election was held under the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024. [1] Candidates were nominated by a registered political party or with the support of 60 electors.

Contents

There were fifteen declared candidates in the contest for mayor, ten from political parties, and five independent candidates.

On 11 June 2024, John Moran was elected as mayor.

Background

In May 2019 a plebiscite was held with the 2019 Limerick City and County Council election in which voters approved a proposal in a plebiscite on the establishment of a directly elected mayor for Limerick City and County by a vote of 52.4%. [2] [3] Under the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024, the first election to the new office would take place as part of the 2024 Limerick City and County Council election.

In August 2023, the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 was published. [4] Kieran O'Donnell, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, stated that the government intended that the election for a directly elected Mayor for Limerick would be held in 2024, at the local elections which were scheduled to be held in June 2024. [5]

The Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 was enacted on 6 March 2024. [6] Under its provisions, the powers currently vested in the chief executive would be transferred to the Mayor of Limerick. On 5 April, Darragh O'Brien, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, confirmed the date of 7 June 2024 by ministerial order. [7]

Campaign

On 27 February, former Secretary General of the Department of Finance, John Moran, announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the election. [8] He launched his campaign on 9 April in Newcastle West. [9]

On 27 February, CEO of Limerick Chamber, Dee Ryan, declared her candidacy to seek the Fianna Fáil nomination for the election. [10] Ryan was confirmed as the party's candidate on 11 March following an internal consultation process and was endorsed by Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Limerick TD Willie O'Dea. [11]

On 11 March, businesswoman Helen O'Donnell announced her candidacy as an independent and launched her campaign that day at Limerick's Strand Hotel. [12]

On 3 April, Limerick TD, Maurice Quinlivan, was selected as the Sinn Féin candidate for the election. [13]

On 11 April, Limerick City and County Councillor, Conor Sheehan, announced his candidacy to seek the Labour Party nomination. [14] He was selected as the party's candidate at a meeting of Labour members on 22 April. [15]

On 12 April, Limerick City and County Councillor and former Mayor, Daniel Butler, was nominated as Fine Gael's candidate at a selection convention at Limerick Racecourse and was endorsed by Taoiseach Simon Harris. [16]

On 14 April, Limerick City and County Councillor, Frankie Daly, announced on social media that he would be running as an independent. [17]

Debates

2024 Limerick mayoral election debates
Date BroadcasterModerator Programme Participants
 P Participant   A Absent invitee   Moran O'Donnell Ryan Butler Quinlivan Daly Sheehan O'DonovanBeasley Leddin KeyesNí ChatháinUunkFahyÓ Móráin
21 May Limerick Post
Limerick Chamber 		Pat LeahyN/APPPPPPPPAPPAAAA
27 May RTÉ One Katie Hannon Upfront with Katie HannonPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Result

The period for nominations started at 10 a.m. on Saturday 11 May and ended at 12 p.m. on Saturday 18 May 2024. Candidates may be nominated by a registered political party, with the support of 60 assentors, or with a deposit of €1,000. [18] There were fifteen declared candidates for the election.

2024 Mayor of Limerick [19] [20]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789101112
Independent John Moran 23.018,30818,363 18,397 18,462 18,618 19,080 19,350 19,719 20,982 22,290 24,958 28,451
Independent Helen O'Donnell 16.212,90312,991 13,016 13,061 13,275 13,588 13,938 14,288 15,389 16,688 19,353 23,829
Fianna Fáil Dee Ryan 14.811,78511,843 11,864 11,939 12,081 12,370 12,540 12,937 13,965 15,473 18,575  
Fine Gael Daniel Butler12.810,19010,249 10,274 10,316 10,420 10,731 10,962 11,337 12,385 13,632   
Sinn Féin Maurice Quinlivan 10.58,3318,356 8,438 8,509 8,693 8,845 9,156 9,528 11,571    
Independent Frankie Daly5.74,5744,597 4,645 4,686 4,815 4,907 5,410 5,689     
Aontú Sarah Beasley3.32,6352,662 2,698 2,738 2,811 2,859       
Labour Conor Sheehan 3.02,3902,404 2,439 2,480 2,614 2,946 3,047      
Social Democrats Elisa O'Donovan3.02,3842,401 2,478 2,526 3,061 3,336 3,439 3,799     
Green Brian Leddin 2.92,3032,313 2,368 2,409 2,578        
Rabharta Laura Keyes1.41,0791,089 1,122 1,165         
Independent Caitríona Ní Chatháin1.1886896 990 1,016         
Party for Animal Welfare Gerben Uunk0.9758768 788          
People Before Profit Ruairi Fahy0.8689692           
Independent Colm Ó Móráin0.6530           
Electorate: 157,672  Valid: 79,745  Spoilt: 1,923  Quota: 39,873  Turnout: 81,668 (51.8%)  

    References

    1. ↑ English, Bernie (6 March 2024). "President signs Mayor of Limerick bill into law". Limerick Post . Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
    2. ↑ McAllister, Edel (27 May 2019). "Limerick voters will have chance to elect mayor by 2022". RTÉ News . Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
    3. ↑ "Result of the Direct Election of Mayor Plebiscite for Limerick City and County". Limerick City and County Council. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
    4. ↑ "Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023". Oireachtas. 3 August 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
    5. ↑ "Minister O'Donnell Welcomes Publication of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill" (Press release). Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 3 August 2023.
    6. ↑ Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 ( No. 7 of 2024 ). Enacted on 6 March 2024. Act of the Oireachtas .Retrieved from Irish Statute Book .
    7. ↑ "Polling Day Orders made for European, local and Limerick mayoral elections". Gov.ie (Press release). Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
    8. ↑ "Former Finance Chief announces intention to run for historic new role in Limerick". Live 95 . 27 February 2024.
    9. ↑ "Moran launches campaign to be directly elected mayor". Limerick Leader . 9 April 2024.
    10. ↑ "New name in the mix to become Limerick's first directly elected mayor". Limerick Leader . 27 February 2024.
    11. ↑ "Tánaiste names Fianna Fail Limerick Mayoral candidate". Live 95 . 11 March 2024.
    12. ↑ "Limerick businesswoman Helen O'Donnell puts name forward for its first elected mayor". Irish Examiner . 11 March 2024.
    13. ↑ "Sinn Féin announces Limerick mayoral candidate". Limerick Post . 3 April 2024.
    14. ↑ "Labour candidate for Limerick mayoral race comes forward". Limerick Post . 11 April 2024.
    15. ↑ "Conor Sheehan selected as Labour's candidate for Mayor of Limerick". Labour Party . 23 April 2024.
    16. ↑ "WATCH: Taoiseach Simon Harris launches Limerick councillor's bid to be directly elected mayor". Limerick Leader . 12 April 2024.
    17. ↑ "Independent councillor Frankie Daly enters the growing race for Limerick mayoral post". Limerick Post . 16 April 2024.
    18. ↑ "Notice of a Limerick Mayoral Election". Limerick City and County Council. 25 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
    19. ↑ "Notice of Poll Limerick Mayoral Election" (PDF). Limerick City and County Council. 20 May 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
    20. ↑ "Mayor of Limerick Election Results". Limerick City and County Council. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
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