Labour man expresses interest in mayoral race

CITY NORTH Labour councillor Conor Sheehan has expressed an interest in becoming Limerick’s first directly elected mayor.

The Corbally man is to put his name before his party, with a decision on an official candidate due to be made in the next week.

So far, six candidates have declared their intention to contest the first ever election in Limerick for an executive mayor, with the vote taking place on Friday, June 7.

“I feel like there is an absence in the debate of a candidate who represents Labour values of equality, solidarity and fairness.

"Even more specifically, there is an absence of young candidates. At 30, I am the second youngest councillor. I do not see anybody in the field of candidates who represents me and my generation,” he said.

First elected to Limerick City and County Council at the 2019 local election, Cllr Sheehan believes it is his generation who have most been impacted by the housing crisis.

“With the role of mayor comes real responsibility to shape the future of Limerick in critical areas like infrastructure, like ensuring we have enough housing for our people,” he said.

Cllr Sheehan also expressed surprise that “appalling” issues around overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick have yet to be raised in the mayoral debate.

“I feel there is an absence of the perspective of people of my generation, my age. I think we need to be represented in terms of this mayoral campaign,” he added.

READ MORE: Social Democrats reveal candidate in race to be first directly elected mayor of Limerick

The 30-year-old is one of three Labour members of Limerick City and County Council, the others being councillors Elena Secas and Joe Leddin.

So far, there have been six declarations in the race to become the new Mayor of Limerick on a five-year term.

There are two Independent candidates, in the shape of former director general at the Department of Finance John Moran and businesswoman Helen O’Donnell.

Former Limerick Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan was nominated as the Fianna Fail candidate last week.

Social Democrats picked City West councillor Elisa O’Donovan last week.

People Before Profit’s Ruairi Fahy is standing.

Green Party Limerick City TD Brian Leddin was first to declare his candidacy in December.

Back in 2021, city centre businessman Fionan Coughlan said he would seek election as an Independent candidate, but has since withdrawn from the race.