Mayor of Limerick responds to council director general's email revealing 'disappointment'

MAYOR John Moran says he wants to "give it a bit more thought" before formally responding to an email from council director general Dr Pat Daly, in which he shared his "disappointment" over an interview the first citizen gave on local radio.

In a communication marked "for internal circulation only" - revealed by Limerick Live - Dr Daly responded to the interview saying: "I fully understand and share the disappointment that some of the remarks have caused".

Mayor Moran had given a rundown to Live95FM on the preparations for Christmas in Limerick, adding: "I believe in looking after public money, as I think everyone does, but it's a question of higher standards".

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Both the mayor's office and Limerick City and County Council said they would not be commenting on the communication. The mayor's office said it is "an internal matter".

However, contacted directly by Limerick Live this Thursday afternoon, Mayor Moran said: "I think I want to give this a bit of thought. First of all, I am not even in Limerick. I had a meeting at the Department, then I was also at a subsequent event on the construction industry. So I need to get some understanding of what is happening here, and talk to people before I say anything official. I will not make any further comment until I have a fuller understanding of what has been said, and I am fully appraised."

Dr Daly acknowledged in the initial 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.