Limerick's oldest building set to host historic mayoral ceremony

More history will be created at St Mary’s Cathedral this Friday as Mayor John Moran is inaugurated | PICTURE: Adrian Butler

placeholder image — More history will be created at St Mary’s Cathedral this Friday as Mayor John Moran is inaugurated | PICTURE: Adrian Butler

Inauguration to be followed by public celebration at Merchant’s Quay outside City Hall

THE OLDEST building in Limerick city will play host to the historic inauguration of the first directly elected mayor of Limerick later this week.

St Mary’s Cathedral, which dates back to 1168, will be the venue for the ceremony, which will mark the start of John Moran’s term as mayor.

The special, invite-only event will kick off at 11.30am this Friday. Here, he will receive his chain of office.

It will then be followed by a celebration focused around Merchant’s Quay outside City Hall for members of the public.

Mayor Moran has extended an invite to the public to join in with the celebrations in the gardens of the council’s city headquarters, and also take a look inside the council chamber.

Following this event, the new mayor will then travel to County Hall in Dooradoyle.

Here, the new council will gather for the first time for the opening annual general meeting of the local authority.

Taking place at 3pm in County Hall, the event will see the 40 councillors being sworn in and taking their seats.

A priomh chomhairleoir will be elected on Friday to chair council meetings for the next year.

As well as the priomh chomhairleoir and the leas-priomh chomhairleoir (their deputy), a number of other appointments are due to be made.

This will include putting in place members of Limerick’s Market Trustees, which administers the Milk Market. Appointments will be made to the board of governors of St John’s Hospital, the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board as well as Limerick Civic Trust.

Mayor Moran officially became Limerick’s first citizen last Friday, June 14.

This was what is known as ‘vesting day’ for the role.

He will take his seat on council for the first time this Friday.

This week, Mayor Moran has been holding meetings with the council executives.

The leaders of each political grouping on the local authority have also been invited to breakfast meetings with Limerick’s first directly elected mayor.