2024 Limerick mayoral election explained

Election Name:2024 Limerick mayoral election
Country:Ireland
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Next Election:2029 Limerick mayoral election
Next Year:2029
Turnout:51.8%
Election Date:7 June 2024
Party1:Independent politician (Ireland)
Candidate1:John Moran
Image1: Ind
1Data1:18,308 (23%)
2Data1:28,451 (35.7%)
Party2:Independent politician (Ireland)
Candidate2:Helen O'Donnell
1Data2:12,903 (16.2%)
2Data2:23,829 (29.9%)
Party3:Fianna Fáil
Candidate3:Dee Ryan
Image3: FF
1Data3:11,785 (14.8%)
2Data3:Eliminated
Party4:Fine Gael
Candidate4:Daniel Butler
Image4: FG
1Data4:10,190 (12.8%)
2Data4:Eliminated
Party5:Sinn Féin
Candidate5:Maurice Quinlivan
Image5:Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile & Maurice Quinlivan TD (cropped).jpg
1Data5:8,331 (10.5%)
2Data5:Eliminated
Party6:Independent politician (Ireland)
Candidate6:Frankie Daly
Image6: Ind
1Data6:4,574 (5.7%)
2Data6:Eliminated
Mayor
Before Election:Position established
After Election:John Moran
After Party:Independent politician (Ireland)

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.

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]

Results

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.[8] There were fifteen declared candidates for the election.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: English . Bernie . 6 March 2024 . President signs Mayor of Limerick bill into law . 13 March 2024 . . 13 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240313102224/https://www.limerickpost.ie/2024/03/06/president-signs-mayor-of-limerick-bill-into-law/ . live .
  2. Web site: Limerick voters will have chance to elect mayor by 2022. 27 May 2019. McAllister. Edel. RTÉ News. 28 September 2021. 25 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210525062741/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2019/0527/1052049-mayor-votes-results/. live.
  3. Web site: Result of the Direct Election of Mayor Plebiscite for Limerick City and County. 27 May 2019. 6 March 2021. Limerick City and County Council. 8 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210608174225/https://www.limerick.ie/count/result-direct-election-mayor-plebiscite-limerick-city-and-county. live.
  4. Web site: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 . Oireachtas . 22 August 2023 . 3 August 2023 . 27 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527045946/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2023/63/ . live .
  5. Minister O'Donnell Welcomes Publication of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill . 3 August 2023 . Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage .
  6. Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024. 2024. 7. 6 March 2024.
  7. Polling Day Orders made for European, local and Limerick mayoral elections . Gov.ie . . 6 April 2024 . 10 April 2024 . 10 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240410051431/https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ebfe6-polling-day-orders-made-for-european-local-and-limerick-mayoral-elections/ . live .
  8. Web site: Notice of a Limerick Mayoral Election . Limerick City and County Council . 3 May 2024 . 25 April 2024 . 3 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503064838/https://www.limerick.ie/council/newsroom/public-notices/notice-of-a-limerick-mayoral-election . live .