Stephen Keary overwhelmingly elected as new Mayor of Limerick

FINE Gael's Croagh based councillor Stephen Keary has been elected as Mayor of Limerick City and County.

The Adare/Rathkeale area member secured the chain of office after winning 27 votes at the AGM of the local authority this afternoon.

BREAKING: @StephenKeary, Fine Gael has been elected Mayor of Limerick winning 27 votes #LimerickMayor

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 26, 2017

.@stephenkeary, father in law of junior minister @podonovan beats nominations of @cianplk and John Costellloe, SF #LimerickMayor

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 26, 2017

His election comes as part of an deal with Fianna Fail which has seen the two biggest parties share the top positions on the council.

The run up to the election was marred by comments made by Cllr Keary suggesting an influx of Eastern Europeans are targetting Ireland as an "easy target" to claim social welfare.

But speaking upon taking the chain of office, Cllr Keary pledged to be a mayor for all the people of Limerick.

The first picture of @stephenkeary, the newly elected #LimerickMayor upon donning the chain of office. pic.twitter.com/TIv66bUGC9

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 26, 2017

"I know some media reports in the last fortnight may have portrayed me in a different light and again, as I have said already, I sincerely apologise to those people to whom my comments have caused offence."

There was a number of people present to demonstrate against the civil engineers’ election prior to the ceremony.

Polish national Nikola Kaluzynska, who organised the demonstration, said: “A lot of people have veen bery upset about this. I have heard a lot of Irish, Hungarian people seriously offended. We don't want him representing us as mayor. We don't think the same way as him.”

Despite this, the grand coalition remained firm to deliver the fourth mayoralty of this council to Cllr Keary, the father-in-law of Junior Minister Patrick O'Donovan.

There were also nominations for Sinn Fein councillor John Costelloe, and Cllr Paul Keller.

Cllr Keary added: “It is the ultimate privelege to be elected the first citizen of Limerick, the fourth mayor of this amalgamaged authority. It is my ambition to harness the positives and be a representative of all sectors of society.”

He also again apologised for “any offence” for comments which have attracted a petition of almost 2,000 people to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar calling for his removal as a mayoral candidate.

Meanwhile, fellow Fine Gael councillor Marian Hurley, Annacotty, has been elected as deputy mayor.

BREAKING: @MarianHurley6 has been elected deputy mayor of #Limerick, beating Cllrs Paul Keller and @ElenaSecas #LimerickMayor

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 26, 2017

She beat off competition from Moldovan national Cllr Elena Secas – who was nominated by Sinn Fein, and Cllr Paul Keller.

Cllr Keary becomes the fourth mayor of Limerick City and County, following in the footsteps of Cllrs Kevin Sheahan, Liam Galvin and Kieran O'Hanlon.

The mayor of the metropolitan district, Cllr Sean Lynch of Fianna Fail was elected on Friday night.

Councillor @stephenkeary overwhelmingly elected new mayor of #Limerick. Proud day for the family pic.twitter.com/nbASKoIOt7

— Niall O'Callaghan (@NiallOC_IDA) June 26, 2017

Cllr Stephen Keary elected new Mayor of the City and County of Limerick. @stephenkeary pic.twitter.com/5Ounz3KBel

— Limerick Council (@LimerickCouncil) June 26, 2017

Outgoing mayor robed up, chamber packed. We're ready to kick off the election of #LimerickMayor pic.twitter.com/SawsnJ5oUs

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 26, 2017

The new #LimerickMayor will be elected in a short period of time. FG's @stephenkeary is favourite - despite 'racist' comments aimed (1/2)

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 26, 2017

(2/2) at Eastern Europeans. Stay with me for updates. @Limerick_Leader

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 26, 2017