Dr Pat Daly (right) has written that he shares the "disappointment" of staff over comments made by Mayor of Limerick John Moran
LIMERICK City and County Council's director general has issued an email to staff and councillors sharing his "disappointment" over comments made by Mayor John Moran on radio.
In a correspondence sent this Thursday which Dr Pat Daly cited as "for internal circulation only" - which has been leaked to Limerick Live - he states: "I want to assure you that I have listened to the interview and I fully understand and share the sense of disappointment that some of the remarks have caused.”
In an interview to Live95FM on Wednesday, Mayor Moran gave an overview of the timeline which led to him handing over Christmas in Limerick to Dr Daly.
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He said: "I believe in looking after public money, as I think everyone does, but it's a question of higher standards".
Dr Daly acknowledged in the email that many staff members “have been in touch” following Mayor Moran's radio interview.
"While it is natural to feel disheartened, it's important we focus our energy on what we do best, that is, serving our community with professionalism, integrity and pride."
"Since June 2024, Limerick City and County Council has undergone a radical transformation. We are pioneers in this space, setting an example for local government nationally. Many of you have taken on additional responsibilities, often at short notice, and have done so with great professionalism and a can-do attitude. Please know that your efforts are seen and deeply appreciated," he wrote.
"The management team is here to support you as we continue to learn and adapt. We remain committed to maintaining a positive, respectful, and productive working environment."
He added: "As we prepare our budget for 2026, this is a good moment to take stock and remind ourselves of the importance of pulling together in the same direction."
"Each of us plays a key role in delivering a better Limerick, for those who live here, work here, invest here, and visit our city and county," the director general wrote, before thanking staff for "your continued professionalism and dedication".
On Live95FM, the directly elected mayor had appeared to criticise a list of proposals which were submitted to him for Christmas in Limerick.
He claimed he received an email with six proposals, short descriptions, and no figures attached to how the budget of €200,000 would be spent.
"I think I was elected to introduce higher standards on this kind of stuff, and be more demanding," he said. "
Elsewhere in the 20-minute long interview, he also said outside of the Christmas offering, he has sent back proposals which he did not feel were "good enough".
Last month, Mayor Moran handed over the control of Christmas in Limerick to Dr Daly, outlining concerns that the proposals were developed too late to be a success, and that public money was at risk.
This did not include a market he was planning for The Crescent area of Limerick, which would have included a partial closure of O'Connell Street. This was to be funded from his own devolved funding.
However, later on, he axed that offering, expressing the same concerns around the timeline.
Limerick City and County Council declined to comment.
The mayor's office has not so far responded to a request for comment.
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