THE GLADRAGS were on at the Limerick Strand Hotel last Friday night (May 2) as Mayor of Limerick John Moran hosted his first Mayor’s Charity Dinner – an annual highlight of the Riverfest weekend.
Over 430 guests attended the black-tie formal ball, which marked the first of Mayor Moran’s five-year term in office.
The Marie Keating Foundation was chosen as the charity partner for the ball, a cause the Mayor said was close to his heart, following his bowel cancer diagnosis in 2022 – from which he made a full recovery.
Addressing guests on the night, the Mayor said “the event was all about celebrating Limerick. I chose the Marie Keating Foundation as the beneficiary of my first Mayor’s Charity Dinner in my term because, like so many others across our city and county, I too know what it means to confront cancer”.
Funds raised on the night will be spent on raising awareness in Limerick of bowel cancer, and helping to fund preventative screening for those who cannot afford it, the Mayor said.
Guests on the evening included Limerick’s civic leaders, the respective Lord Mayors of both Belfast and Cork, and the chair of the Southern Regional Assembly.
Barry Murphy of Hermitage Green MC’d proceedings on the evening.
Each item on the menu served on the evening included one or more local Limerick producers, at the request of the Mayor, reflecting a significant commitment to supporting the Limerick food sector in the More for Limerick 2024-2029 Mayoral Programme.
Mr Moran also commented that too often locals forget how great Limerick is as a place to live, citing the diversity of business and the strength of the local community.
CEO of the Marie Keating Foundation, Liz Yeates, said the organisation was deeply honoured to have been chosen as the charity partner for this year’s ball.
“Events like this allow us to continue offering hope, compassion, and care to those facing a cancer journey and their loved ones. Limerick is showing it has a heart as strong as its spirit,” Liz added.
Mayor Moran’s trusted companion, Henri, was there in spirit, with a cardboard cut-out of Limerick’s first dog front and centre during the Mayor’s speech.
