IN AN historic moment five years in the making, John Moran has been confirmed as Limerick’s first ever directly-elected mayor.
After two days of counts at Limerick Racecourse that saw the other 14 candidates ruled out, Independent John Moran came out on top of the race that he led from the off.
Beating fellow independent candidate Helen O’Donnell by 28,451 votes to 23,829 votes, Mr Moran has become the first ever Mayor of Limerick to be elected by popular vote.
There was emotional scenes as Mr Moran’s win was announced, with Moran himself celebrating with his mother Bridie and partner Damian, as well as friends, family, and supporters.
Speaking to the Limerick Post after his historic election, Mr Moran said that the hard work only begins now.
“We’ve always said that in the campaign. That’s one of the reasons why we have always made the effort. I spent a lot of time talking to communities to understand what they wanted Limerick to be,” newly-elected Mayor Elect Moran said.
“That’s why we have our three-point plan with more livability, which is essentially more housing with more business prosperity and more health in Limerick.
“I look forward also not only to working with the other candidates, but with all the new and the old councillors that have come back to the chamber who will meet for the first time on the 21st of June as a group to actually deliver on that. And, as you say, the hard work starts now. We’ll have to start figuring out budgets. We’ll have to start figuring out all the money.”
Taking a moment to reflect on the momentous occassion, Moran said he was “just blown away by the support we got from communities right across Limerick, and I’m blown away by the support we got when we travelled and knocked on doors in communities that felt they’ve been left behind by Limerick.”
The directly-elected mayor role is one that Moran believes is above politics, saying that “I think this role works best as an independent and I’ve said that from the beginning”.
“I think that you actually have an independence to make policy that works best for Limerick, but also an independence to work with everybody.”
Paying to tribute to fellow Independent candidate Helen O’Donnell, Mr Moran his opponent and her team “ran a great campaign as well, because we were hearing some of the same issues that they were explaining on the doors”.
John Moran will take up office as Mayor of Limerick on June 21.
