FINE Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors in Limerick are praying for a Christmas miracle of Tiny Tim proportions to save the festive season after taking aim at Mayor John Moran.
The majority parties within Limerick City and County Council this week claimed that the left hand of local government does not know what the right is doing when it comes to planning its Yuletide offering.
As in previous years, the issue of the Council’s Christmas programme has raised ire of Council members. And while other cities like Waterford, Kilkenny, and Galway are busy promoting their seasonal events, in Limerick, planning is still ongoing and the matter of heated debate.
This week, Fine Gael councillors in the city issued a statement following a workshop on Christmas in Limerick, strongly condemning the Mayor’s decision to hand over all powers and responsibilities relating to the city’s festive programme to Council director general Dr Pat Daly.
Fine Gael councillors described the move as an act of “political cowardice”, claiming the Mayor is “passing the buck”. Others in the Council chamber pointed the finger directly back at FG.
Aontú councillor Sarah Beasley was of the opinion that, even if the Mayor were Santa himself, “FG would find something to criticise”.
Cllr Beasley believes it crucial that all councillors unite and sing off the same hymn sheet to ensure Limerick’s 2025 Christmas season is a truly memorable one.
Fine Gael councillors do not agree, claiming the Mayor’s decision has “further jeopardised preparations, placing at risk the successful delivery of the Christmas programme, which is so vital for the people, businesses, and communities of Limerick”.
“This is nothing more than a calculated attempt by the Mayor to shirk responsibility and avoid blame if the Christmas programme does not succeed,” FG councillors stated.
“By delaying until now, he has only deepened uncertainty and undermined public confidence in the process.”
Fine Gael Metropolitan councillors emphasised that, despite what claimed is “the Mayor’s abdication of duty”, they remain committed to working with the Council Executive to ensure the programme is delivered in full.
‘We are in October with no plan’
Council Príomh Chomhairleoir and leader of Fianna Fáil Metropolitan councillors, Cllr Catherine Slattery, said she is frustrated by the way Christmas in Limerick has been handled.
“The Mayor has washed his hands of Christmas in Limerick and passed the buck to director general Pat Daly. We are in October with no plan, or if there is a plan, councillors do not know about it,” she said.
“Christmas is the same date every year, the Mayor should have been following up with Festival and Events since January. They should have been provided with more resources and funding to get their job done. The left hand in the Council does not know what the right hand is doing and councillors are left in the dark as usual since a directly-elected mayor was elected.”
Cllr Slattery said she asked, as a member of the Christmas Sub-Committee, for a city centre Santa “like we had a few years ago in King John’s Castle”. The City East representative also asked for new lights and a map of where those lights are going, but claims that, to date, she has been met with silence.
“In my view, the Mayor needs to step up fix what is not working in the Council and Limerick, instead of spending his time on flights around the world trying to make new links. He needs to work with the executive, councillors, and the residents of Limerick. Instead of telling us his vision, he needs to listen to the people who elected him.
“I hope the next few weeks we get a Christmas miracle like Tiny Tim did in a Christmas Carol,” Cllr Slattery commented.
‘It’s petty and pretty pathetic’
Independent councillor Ursula Gavan is hoping for a quiet Christmas and urged councillors to work together to ensure the festive programme is delivered. She wants all focus on getting a programme of events up and running and advertised.
“I’m sick of every issue being turned into a political football by councillors, generally to have a go at the Mayor,” Cllr Gavan said. “It’s petty and pretty pathetic to be honest. How about councillors leaving their egos outside of the chamber and just getting on with the work?”
Sinn Féin councillor Sharon Benson called for Fine Gael to work with the Mayor, not against him.
“There is always a place for robust debate, but the approach that Fine Gael has taken since the election of the Mayor has been petty and disruptive of Council proceedings,” Cllr Benson declared.
“We need to get on with the job and ensure the Christmas programme is delivered, as planned,” she said. “We were elected to work for our constituents, as the Mayor was. It is high time that Fine Gael respected his mandate and stop this petty performative behaviour. It does not serve the people of Limerick.”
Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan told the Limerick Post she considers it very disappointing that there is no leadership for the Christmas programme.
“We have all the elements to have a wonderful festive season. We have the Milk Market, wonderful creative communities and artists, superb venues across the city and county. However, for another year Limerick is left lacking due to a lack of engagement and consultation with our creative communities and us as elected reps and the feedback we receive from the people of Limerick every day,” Cllr O’Donovan said.
‘Christmas is not the time for divisive posturing’
Independent councillor Maria Donoghue said she was disappointed to see Fine Gael Metropolitan Area councillors reduce Christmas celebrations to political point-scoring.
“At the briefing, I asked the Festival and Events Department to clarify the new timelines for delivering the Christmas in Limerick festival. We were told unambiguously that the revised order would be signed by director general Pat Daly on his return from the Ryder Cup – which was the following day – and that the preferred providers would be appointed within a week,” Cllr Donoghue explained.
“While it’s fair to acknowledge that the pace of progress earlier in the process was slower than it should have been, the current situation is being addressed. It is so disheartening to see elected representative choosing to manufacture panic and undermine confidence, instead of supporting efforts to ensure the festival goes ahead successfully.”
Cllr Donoghue said that “as a member of the Christmas in Limerick sub-committee, I can confirm that the proposal from Festival and Events was approved in principle on 16th July 2025. Unfortunately, it took them six weeks to bring forward the Mayoral Orders for signing – a delay that should not be ignored and created a fundamental problem.
“For FG councillors to now use this situation as a pretext for political theatre, just as the process is moving forward, is deeply regrettable. Christmas in Limerick is not the time for divisive posturing.”
There was no response from the Mayor’s office or Limerick City and County Council at the time of going to print.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.