Cormac McQuinn: Limerick’s experiment with a directly mayor may be the last for some time

While the United Kingdom has seen prominent politicians like former Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Boris Johnson leverage their experience as directly elected mayors to reach national leadership, Ireland's experiment with similar roles has been far less successful. Britain has had directly elected mayors for over 25 years, with figures like Burnham using the executive office to overhaul transport and address homelessness in Greater Manchester, while Johnson built his public persona as Mayor of London. In contrast, Ireland's attempts to introduce such positions have been met with mixed results, often missing the mark.

Proposals for directly elected mayors in Ireland were put forward on three occasions before 2014, but none materialized. A notable instance was Fingal County Council's veto of a proposal for a directly elected mayor of Dublin. In 2019, Limerick voters approved the idea in a plebiscite, while Cork and Waterford rejected similar proposals. This hesitant approach contrasts sharply with the UK's more established system, where mayors often gain significant public profiles.

Limerick's first directly elected mayor, John Moran, took office in 2024. However, the role is considerably more constrained than its British counterparts. The mayor's primary power lies in proposing the annual budget for Limerick City and County Council, but this proposal still requires approval from the councillors. This limited scope raises questions about the future viability and impact of directly elected mayoral roles in Ireland, especially when compared to the stepping-stone potential seen in the UK.