GUESS who’s back? Limerick councillors, who have been busy sunning themselves on the Pollock Holes over the last month, are back in session.
They were all looking bronzed and beautiful as they took to their comfy chairs in County Hall last week to consider the Local Property Tax for the next 12 months – which we all still have to pay, by the way.
With their new lunchboxes and satchels at the ready, they appeared more subdued than normal as they buried their heads in their books and did their utmost to keep out of trouble on their first day back.
Maybe class prefect Mayor John Moran gave councillors a scolding before the new school term, as there was no messing around or guff for a change. In a rather unusual turn of events, not a cross word was had, business was taken care of on the double, and we were all out the door again in 15 minutes.
Ground Control to Major Tom – were Limerick councillors all beamed up by an alien craft on the 18th hole of the golf course down in Lahinch and replaced by skin-wearing reptiles?
The business-like scene that unfolded before me left a chill down my spine.
You wouldn’t get that out in Adare Rathkeale, let me tell you. The lads and lassies out west would normally still only be buttering their scones a quarter of an hour into their marathon meetings. What is going on here?
Obviously after the cross words said at the Council’s last full meeting before the summer break, Principal Pat Daly had to bang a few heads together, give everyone over in Fine Gael detention for the new school year, and the message had now been received loud and clear.
Shakespeare was obviously not on the curriculum just yet, but we’ll give them another week or two before the paper airplanes are being flung around the class and the knives are out once again.
This Kumbaya vibe can’t last.
Still, it made for a pleasant change to witness such peace and harmony in the Dooradoyle chamber. I have been around these halls too long to consider what I saw last week as anything other than a flash in the pander. But look, we can dream.
But lookit, who am I to be complainging to be out the door so fast and back playing on the swings with young Cllr Dan McSweeney.
Councillors, in 15 minutes flat, agreed there would be no change to the LPT rate for homeowners in 2026. They voted in favour of keeping the LPT and its variation rate at 2025 levels, a decision which secures additional funding of €2.56m for the Council’s 2026 budget.
Teamwork makes the dream work, you really can’t bate it, lads!
– Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
