Heated exchanges amid row over who should represent the Mayor of Limerick at local events

MEMBERS of the Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District have expressed their dissatisfaction surrounding how members from the district are selected to deputise for the Mayor of Limerick.

There were heated exchanges during their October meeting over the protocol surrounding who should represent John Moran at official events within the district.

The discussion began when Cllr Stephen Keary asked: “Who was asked to attend the opening of the new graveyard in Askeaton?”

The official opening of the Reilig Mhuire extension happened at the end of September and it was noted that independent councillor Tommy Hartigan had attended on behalf of the Mayor.

Cathaoirleach of the district, Cllr Ger Ward, explained he had been initially invited by the Mayor to attend the ceremony in Askeaton but was unable to do so as he was travelling to New York for the Ryder Cup. He said he emailed and phoned the Mayor’s office to decline the invitation.

It was after this that Cllr Hartigan was asked to 'cut the ribbon' on behalf of the Mayor (picture below).

Speaking at the October meeting, Cllr Bridie Collins, Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District, questioned why she was not asked to represent the Mayor, arguing that under the system that was previously in place, the invitation would have passed from the Mayor to the Deputy Mayor, to the Cathaoirleach (of the relevant district) and then to the Leas-Cathaoirleach,

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Citing an example from St Patrick’s Day last March, she said she was contacted directly by the Mayor’s office and asked to represent him at the Adare parade. She said she declined explaining that it wouldn’t be her place to do so and instead advised that Cllr Adam Teskey - the then-Cathaoirleach should be asked to attend. "I worked with the Mayor's Office," she said.

As Cllr Teskey was not available, it was ultimately Cllr Stephen Keary who represented the Mayor at the Adare parade. 

Regarding the official opening of the extension at Reilig Mhuire in Askeaton, Cllr Ward insisted he had no role in what happened after he declined. "It has absolutely nothing to do with me," he stated. "It's up to the council, Tommy did it." 

Cllr Collins and Cllr Keary said the previous system of delegation appears to have changed since John Moran was elected as Mayor of Limerick last year.

There were heated exchanges when Cllr Teskey asked Cllr Collins to retract comments suggesting Cllr Ward had failed to follow protocol, a request she declined.

Independent councillor John O’Donoghue weighed in, saying as an independent councillor he often feels “left with the crumbs” when it comes to such invitations and added if the Mayor’s office asks him directly to attend an event, he would accept without hesitation.

The discussion concluded with Cllr Collins and Cllr Keary proposing that the municipal district formally contact the Mayor’s office to express their dissatisfaction and to seek to clarity on the current procedure.