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Nick Rabbitts, 20 Mar
CITY NORTH Labour councillor Conor Sheehan has expressed an interest in
becoming Limerick’s first directly elected mayor.
The Corbally man is to put his name before his party, with a decision
on an official candidate due to be made in the next week.
So far, six candidates have declared their intention to contest the
first ever election in Limerick for an executive mayor, with the vote
taking place on Friday, June 7.
“I feel like there is an absence in the debate of a candidate who
represents Labour values of equality, solidarity and fairness.
"Even more specifically, there is an absence of young candidates. At
30, I am the second youngest councillor. I do not see anybody in the
field of candidates who represents me and my generation,” he said.
First elected to Limerick City and County Council at the 2019 local
election, Cllr Sheehan believes it is his generation who have most been
impacted by the housing crisis.
“With the role of mayor comes real responsibility to shape the future
of Limerick in critical areas like infrastructure, like ensuring we
have enough housing for our people,” he said.
Cllr Sheehan also expressed surprise that “appalling” issues around
overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick have yet to be raised in
the mayoral debate.
“I feel there is an absence of the perspective of people of my
generation, my age. I think we need to be represented in terms of this
mayoral campaign,” he added.
READ MORE: Social Democrats reveal candidate in race to be first
directly elected mayor of Limerick
The 30-year-old is one of three Labour members of Limerick City and
County Council, the others being councillors Elena Secas and Joe
Leddin.
So far, there have been six declarations in the race to become the new
Mayor of Limerick on a five-year term.
There are two Independent candidates, in the shape of former director
general at the Department of Finance John Moran and businesswoman Helen
O’Donnell.
Former Limerick Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan was nominated as the
Fianna Fail candidate last week.
Social Democrats picked City West councillor Elisa O’Donovan last week.
People Before Profit’s Ruairi Fahy is standing.
Green Party Limerick City TD Brian Leddin was first to declare his
candidacy in December.
Back in 2021, city centre businessman Fionan Coughlan said he would
seek election as an Independent candidate, but has since withdrawn from
the race.