MAYOR John Moran, it would seem, is as popular with one particular Fine Gael councillor as the Limerick Post.
When he’s not giving reporters their marching orders from local authority meetings, much of Cllr Stephen Keary’s chagrin seems to be aimed at Limerick’s first citizen.
When the Adare-Rathkeale area representative isn’t lashing out about what he considers “totally aspirational” plans from the Mayor, it’s his vintage garb he’s turned to having a pop at.
The latest pet peeve for Cllr Keary – joining the Council’s Active Travel and Communications departments – is Mayor Moran’s donning of the mayoral robes at the National Famine Commemoration 2025 in Kilmallock last month.
Down with that type of thing! You can’t be doing that, Mayor.
As far as Keary is concerned, it was “inappropriate” of him to wear the local authority’s answer to the Batman costume at a commemoration officiated by President of Ireland and fellow Limerick man, Michael D Higgins.
“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. 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 proclaimed.
And the irate blueshirt wasn’t the only one unhappy about the Mayor’s unique sense of style. Cllr Keary’s phone was ringing off the hook from people “who were in attendance at the commemoration to say the ceremonial robes were worn by the mayor”.
Keary and his Fine Gael pal Adam Teskey are definitely not members of the John Moran Appreciation Society.
In an interview in last week’s Limerick Post marking one year since his election, the Mayor suggested that councillors who have put down roots in the Council chamber over the last number of years are finding the new regime hardest of all.
“Councillors who have been there before are the ones going through that change. So it’s a bit hard for them. We’re trying to sort out issues that are important to them. So, I think these things will improve,” he predicted.
Is there anything that would appease them, I wonder?
Could he not just organise a play date out in Rathkeale and let Keary and Teskey have a go of the glittery mayoral chain and fancy robes? Let them play dress-up and officiate at the opening of a letter out in Croagh and they’ll no longer have their knickers in a twist. Isn’t that all they want really?
Back in November last year, the call went out from the breakaway West Limerick contingent to be allowed stand in for Mayor Moran when not available to host civic receptions.
Supporting Cllr Teskey’s proposal, Keary agreed that the relevant chairperson in the area should do the honours and wear the chain when the mayor is marked absent.
Alas, director with responsibility for Adare-Rathkeale, Stephane Duclot, told Council members the Mayor has the right to pick who he wants to represent him.
At the previous meeting, Teskey told Moran he would speak his mind at meetings even if it meant he wouldn’t get to wear the mayoral chain at the next official function in the Adare-Rathkeale district.
Is mediation needed?
Maybe they should consider playing ball with our first citizen rather than constantly throwing their toys out of the pram. A year into the job, it seems the Mayor has some more sleepless nights ahead with his teething councillors.
