FINE Gael councillor Stephen Keary has deemed it “inappropriate” of Mayor John Moran to have worn the mayoral robes at the the National Famine Commemoration 2025 in Kilmallock last month.
Held at the Kilmallock Famine Memorial Park, a site of profound historical significance, located within the Kilmallock Union Workhouse complex, the commemoration was officiated by President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins.
The park, which is on the grounds of a mass famine grave, serves as a poignant reminder of those who perished or emigrated during An Gorta Mór.
The national commemoration on May 17 featured military honours and a solemn wreath-laying ceremony. Mayor John Moran delivered the welcoming address.
However, at last week’s full meeting of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC), Cllr Stephen Keary took issue with the first citizen’s attire at the commemoration. Mayor Moran wore the traditional formal red robes, which before the amalgamation of the local authority, were worn for formal events such as civic receptions, Freedom of the City awards and for some funerals.
The mayoral robes, considered an “heirloom of the past”, were preserved by Limerick Museum and Archives to be displayed among other rare items in the city’s history after the late Kathleen Leddin finished her term as mayor in 2014. However, in recent years, the robes have come out of retirement and been worn by previous Limerick Mayors at official functions.
Cllr Keary told the council executive that the robes should be confined to where Leddin “confined” them. He said he had a number of calls from people who were in attendance at the commemoration to say the ceremonial robes were worn by the mayor.
“I was most disappointed. It was most inappropriate, because of the event that was taking place, a famine memorial where we lost two million people, one by starvation and one by immigration. So, I think it was most inappropriate, and I think those robes should be confined to where, the late Kathleen Leddin sent them in 2014,” Keary insisted.
Mayor John Moran said following the National Famine Commemoration, that it represented an opportunity for us in Limerick to pause, reflect and take time to remember our past and the journey to today.
“Limerick was not spared during the Great Famine. Indeed, it was one of the counties most acutely affected by it. As we commemorate all who died during that time, we now have an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved as a nation. We are grateful to all who have worked tirelessly to ensure this event’s success, particularly the dedicated staff of Limerick City and County Council, the local community in Kilmallock and our partners at the Department.”
