Directly Elected Mayor

What was telling was how well the candidates who were exposed on TV did in their LEAs, Butler, Daly and Sheehan did very well, what would worry me is that in 5 years time we will have even more headbangers putting their name in just for the exposure.

The best candidate won, and the win was never in doubt from the moment the ballot boxes were opened Saturday morning, so it was a resounding win, in a competition that had it required a CV application, possibly 3 people would have made the interview stage.

Next time out, managing 15 candidates is just ridiculous, very little debate, I don't know how you'd circumvent it, but nobody was well served in my view.(apart from the local election candidates)

JM has invested in what are very expensive buildings to renovate,the big problem with those buildings is the cost it takes to make them livable, the guy is independently wealthy, he doesn't need the cash, and for that it seems he deserves abuse …the waffle online is from that small, but very vocal minority that were shouting at Moran during the RTE debate is ridiculous….they behaved like children that night, they are still behaving like children.

You wouldn't sell your house below market rate to protest property prices.

They were going to restrict that panel to the candidates associated with parties. They dropped that restriction because it would have excluded the two strongest contenders. Not sure there is a fair way to do it other than to invite everyone. But yeah 60 signatures and €100 might be a low bar.

It was a monumental mistake to allow councillors to run in the two elections. they should have been caught by Peter. Those that did were obviously doing it for exposure. Conor is on record saying that he spent 90% of his time canvassing in his ward. Himself and Frankie did extremely well in the local election. If things aren't changed for next mayor election what's to stop all councillors and wannabes running just for the exposure.

I think you have hit upon the first change the new Mayor could make.

i personally did not vote for him but I have high hopes, as I would for anybody who won the election. He is much more answerable to the people of Limerick than any mayor was under the old system and has much more power.

Let's see what happens

I thought maybe a "real" mayor like this should just have a sash like a French mayor and not the chain and medieval regalia.

So, they went against the rule brought in during the merger, they should probably have been called on that. Not sure what that has to do with this though?!

Let's just agree to disagree, I think it is a bit pompous to parade around in robes and chains for a role that was touted as a civil servant job, and you think it is fine because of history of another role with the same name.

Okay, it's not that serious. If he is doing the same thing at his inauguration as the previous Mayors, then nothing has changed, so far. Neither of us can see what will happen in five years, but in my opinion (which is as valid as yours), it is a bit pompous to wear all the regalia for a brand-new role that has nothing to do with the previous role. I also don't think there should have been an inauguration at all to be honest.

If I remember correctly, Jim Kemmy said something like "Like Matt Talbot, I'll wear the chain but not the robes" but as a city native, I have no issue at all with historical (and harmless) ceremonial procedures being used.

Again if I remember correctly, at the time of the merger (which I still resent- would have preferred a boundary extension), City Councillors were given an assurance that the "City" traditions would survive the merger, including robes for the "Metropolitan" councillors and the title of "Mayor: although a few years did follow when we had a "Mayor Major" for the whole council and a "Mayor Minor" for the Metropolitan area.

You might remember that not so long ago, only the cities and boroughs like Clonmel, Drogheda, Kilkenny, Sligo etc had mayors.

Then the County Councils started to use the title, in one case, understandably because it was claimed that foreign dignatories and investors etc wouldn't have a clue what a Cathaoírleach was, let alone be able to spell the word!

A few years ago, there was a "whole" LC&CC Council meeting at which the rural cohort formed the majority of the attendance and they rammed through a motion to consign the robes to history although that obviously did not happen.

John Moran has a popular mandate larger than any other holder of elected executive office here. I don't grudge him the right to adhere to tradition.

I also thought that his speech this afternoon was excellent, well prepared, well delivered and with compassionate social comment.

Well said.

When do the the minutes of the first meeting get published . I suppose we'll have to wait as long as it takes to build adare bypass or throw down a few paving slabs on o'connell street. or build a few housheens on the Island. If he does anything I hope he transforms the Island into Limerick's answer to Manhattan.