Limerick City TD Maurice Quinlivan to contest mayoral election

LIMERICK City TD Maurice Quinlivan is to run for Sinn Fein in the upcoming election for directly elected mayor.

He made the announcement this Wednesday morning on Limerick Today's Live95FM.

"I believe I am the strongest candidate in the field. I believe I am the person who is best known. With the people's support, I believe I can be the mayor of Limerick. Not just for myself. The important bit is I believe I can genuinely deliver the best for the people of Limerick, develop this role and enhance this role," he said.

"I've thought about it extensively, I've discussed it with my family and friends. I think it's the right opportunity for me. More importantly, I think I can be the right person to deliver for Limerick. It's a role we can develop and enhance it going forward," Mr Quinlivan added.

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The Sinn Fein TD, who lives on the city's northside, has been a councillor since 2009.

In 2014, he topped the poll in City North to be re-elected to Limerick City and County Council. Two years later, he was elected to the Dail.

Back in 2020, he was returned to the Oireachtas, where he topped the poll in Limerick City with more than 11,000 first preference votes.

There are now 10 confirmed candidates to seek the role of Limerick's first directly elected mayor.

Fellow City TD Brian Leddin is to run for the Green Party, while sitting councillor Elisa O'Donovan will fly the flag for the Social Democrats.

Her campaign was launched in the city on Tuesday night.

Elsewhere, People Before Profit will run housing activist Ruairi Fahy.

Two Independents have declared - former secretary general at the Department of Finance John Moran, and Limerick Tidy Towns chairperson Helen O'Donnell.

The former Limerick Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan is on the Fianna Fail ticket, while Rabharta will run Dr Laura Keyes.

Sarah Beasley will run for Aontu, and this week, there was another fresh entry to the election this week in the shape of Gerben Uunk, who will run for the Party for Animal Welfare, which he co-founded.