High-profile Limerick businesswoman considering Directly Elected Mayor bid

WELL-KNOWN Limerick businesswoman Helen O'Donnell is weighing up a bid to become the first Directly Elected Mayor of the city and county.

Limerick is expected to go to the polls in early June to elect an executive mayor for the first time, following the passage of a plebiscite approving the measure five years ago.

Ms O'Donnell, who was part of the campaign to introduce the measure, now is considering contesting the maiden election.

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Only a handful of people have formally declared their interest in the all-powerful role, which carries a five-year term, so far.

"It's something I am giving serious consideration to," Ms O'Donnell told Limerick Live, "There are a number of things I have to consider."

"It's a very big opportunity for Limerick. It's a big life-changing decision for me to make. I do what I do and love what I'm doing. But this would be a major change in my life. I'd need to take it seriously. Until you know exactly what the role it is hard to make decisions," she added.

The legislation is currently passing through the Oireachtas, and is being spearheaded by Limerick TD and Minister of State Kieran O'Donnell.

Ms O'Donnell has been in business in Limerick for more than 30 years, running the cafe in the Hunt Museum through her firm Dolmen Catering up to 2022.

She also chairs the Paul Partnership, which aims to tackle disadvantage in the city.

A community activist, she chairs the board of management at Crescent College Comprehensive and a member of A t-Údarás Rialaithe, the governing body of Mary Immaculate College.

Elsewhere, she chairs the Limerick City Tidy Towns committee and sits as a member of the JP McManus Benevolent Fund committee.

Her late husband, Tom is a former government minister and MEP.