MAYOR John Moran recently returned to Birmingham, the city he was born, with a delegation from Limerick City and County Council.
Limerick’s first citizen was accompanied by Vincent Murray, Director of Services, Planning, and Place Making and Fianna Fáil councillor Francis Foley.
Coincidentally, all three visiting Council representatives were born in the city of Birmingham before returning to Limerick at a young age, and had been invited to attend a networking dinner with members of the Limerick Birmingham Association.
The delegation also visited Liverpool, Salford, and Manchester as part of their UK trip.
Mayor Moran said it gave him great pleasure and personal affection that he could lead the group to these cities, particularly to his birthplace and indeed that of all three who went.
“Spending time with my counterparts there has only deepened my belief that our cities share more than just a similar past — we share a common future,” Mayor Moran said.
“These are places, like Limerick, shaped by industry, resilience, and reinvention. The ties already in place — through routes at Shannon Airport, education ties, and business ties, offer a powerful foundation for us to continue to build on. Now is the moment to be bold, take action and to weave those threads into something stronger.”
The delegation initially travelled to Liverpool, meeting with the leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson, and Limerick Council alumnus Nuala Gallagher, now corporate director of city development in Liverpool.
Links between Limerick and Liverpool and how to continue building the relationship between the two cities was discussed, along with lessons learned from the development of key new areas in urban Liverpool.
The delegation also travelled to meet separately with Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
Discussions again involved strengthening ties, but with a particular focus on sustainable development.
The group finalised proceedings by travelling to Birmingham where the Mayor first met with Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Ken Wood. The Mayor and Lord Mayor then led a joint workshop with key political leaders and officials from Birmingham. Issues discussed including housing, transport, and links to the Limerick Birmingham diaspora.
Cllr Francis Foley, a former Limerick Mayor himself, deemed it an honour to accompany the Limerick delegation.
“The visit reinforced the historic and cultural links between our regions and highlighted exciting opportunities for future collaboration. Returning to Birmingham was especially meaningful for me, both personally and professionally, as I witnessed the potential for deepening connections that benefit Limerick,” he said.
According to Vincent Murray, these visits reaffirmed the value of international collaboration in shaping resilient, forward-thinking cities with a different kind of energy.
“Visiting Liverpool, Salford, Manchester, and Birmingham offered a unique opportunity to deepen ties with cities that share a proud industrial heritage and ambitious regeneration goals with ourselves in Limerick. We engaged with key stakeholders across urban development, culture, and innovation, as well as highlighting Limerick’s progress and potential.”
A formal invitation will now be extended by the Mayor of Limerick to representatives from each of the four cities – Liverpool, Manchester, Salford and Birmingham – for a Shannonside at some point during the current mayoral term.
