WATCH: Newly-elected Mayor of Limerick pledges to treat office with 'humility it deserves'

FINE GAEL councillor Gerald Mitchell has been elected as Mayor of Limerick City and County.

The Cappamore/Kilmallock area member, an auctioneer by trade, secured the chain of office unanimously at the council's annual general meeting this Friday.

His election comes as part of a deal with his own party and Fianna Fail which has seen the two biggest groups share the top positions on the council.

It is this union which meant this year the opposition groupings did not put forward a candidate.

Sinn Fein’s leader on the council, Sharon Benson said this was in protest at the fact it’s now a decade since there was a female mayor, and said there were plenty of “strong, female representatives” among the Civil War parties in Limerick.

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Speaking upon taking the chain of office, Cllr Mitchell said: “I vow to do my best at all times to represent the office with the honour and humility it deserves."

Cllr Mitchell was first elected to Cappamore/Kilmallock in 2014 at the second time of asking. He was re-elected in 2019.

Former Mayor Cllr Francis Foley congratulates newly elected Mayor Cllr Gerald Mitchell. pic.twitter.com/CfPkUNPydc

— Limerick Council - Comhairle Luimnigh (@LimerickCouncil) June 30, 2023

“When I was first elected to council,I was proud to continue a family tradition which dates back to the late 19th century. I became the fifth Mitchell to hold office in local government in Limerick. Indeed, the first ever chairman elected to Limerick County Council in 1899 was Thomas B Mitchell, my great granduncle,” he said.

He said he is continuing his family’s motto - emblazoned across his own car - of “public service not self-service.”

“I have always treated people with an open and even hand and will continue to apply this trait in my dealings over the next 12 months,” he said.

One of the people Mayor Mitchell wants to honour during his year in office is Redemptorist rector, Fr Seamus Enright.

“The Redemptorists and Fr Seamus in particular have done great things for the poor of this city. Honouring that man is my first priority,” he said.

Meanwhile, fellow Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney, Patrickswell, has been returned as deputy mayor again unopposed.

Councillor Mitchell becomes the fifth mayor of this council term following in the footsteps of Cllrs Michael Sheahan, Michael Collins, Daniel Butler and the outgoing mayor Francis Foley.

For more on the election, see the Monday edition of the Limerick Leader.