Mayor of Limerick John Moran hits Brussels for St Patrick’s Day event
University of Limerick chancellor Brigid Laffan is grand marshal at European event
WHILE many Limerick councillors headed to the USA for St Patrick’s Day, Mayor John Moran headed in the other direction, representing the Treaty City in Brussels.
On Ireland’s national day, the Belgian capital chose Limerick as its featured Irish county, in a move which put the city and the county on the global map.
Each year, the authorities in Brussels pick an Irish county to promote as part of its St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
This year, it was Limerick’s turn.
Mayor Moran was joined in the city by the chancellor of University of Limerick, Prof Brigid Laffan, and, representing the Irish Government, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor.
As part of the festivities, Mayor Moran presented a bowl of shamrock to his counterpart in Brussels, Philippe Close.
Mr Close has been the first citizen of the city since 2017, and like Mayor Moran, is directly elected.
The bowl presented by Limerick’s mayor is inscribed to commemorate the 17th Century Treaty of Limerick and the Battle of Landen, where Patrick Sarsfield was fatally wounded.
Beyond the parade, Mayor Moran also took part in a ‘peace toast’ featuring Limerick-distilled Sailor’s Home whiskey at Brussels City Hall.
He also took part in a ‘write a Limerick’ event hosted by the Claddagh Toastmasters.
The executive mayor also met with director generals of the European Commission to discuss taxation, customs and financial stability.
On top of this, there was a meeting with fellow Limerick man Michael Collins, who serves as a director at the European Economic and Social Committee.
The Brussels St Patrick’s Day parade took place on Sunday, March 15, the same day the International Band Championship took place in Limerick.
Limerick’s first citizen was back on home turf the following Tuesday for his home city’s St Patrick’s Day parade.
The visit came as part of a major effort to promote Limerick and the Mid-West within continental Europe.