Raheen councillor elected leader of Limerick's metropolitan district

DRUGS education worker Daniel Butler has been elected as the new leader of Limerick's metropolitan district.

The Fine Gael councillor, who succeeds Cllr Kieran O'Hanlon in the role, was nominated by party colleague, Cllr Sarah Kiely, and seconded by Cllr Olivia O’Sulivan.

One other candidate was nominated – Cllr Shane Hickey O’Mara of the Social Democrats.

But Cllr Butler won with 14 of the 20 votes available.

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Fianna Fail backed Fine Gael as part of a grand coalition deal put together last year.

The support of Labour and Independent Frankie Daly also helped to hand Cllr Butler the chain of office.

The Raheen man says he will put his own stamp on the role, and is focused on improving the lot of Limerick city centre.

Cllr Butler joined the old Limerick County Council in 2013, as he was co-opted into a seat held by his late father, Richard Butler.

He was re-elected in 2014 in the City West constituency, formulated following the merger of Limerick County Council with Limerick City Council.

Five years on, he was only a handful of votes away from topping the poll at the 2019 local election.

But last year, it was a case of third-time lucky, as he stormed to the head of the poll, with a huge personal vote of 2,233 votes, easing past the quota with 713 to spare.

The father-of-two also performed credibly as Fine Gael's representative in the first election for a new executive mayor in Limerick, finishing fourth in the first ever contest.

City East councillor Sarah Kiely was elected as deputy leader of Limerick’s metropolitan district unopposed.