Mayor’s Silence Sparks Anger Over Limerick’s Christmas Plans

Concerns are escalating over the Christmas festivities in Limerick as Mayor John Moran remains silent following his decision to delegate responsibility for the festive programme. This move has triggered fears that political disputes within the council may compromise the city’s holiday celebrations, traditionally one of the busiest periods in the city centre.

In a shift of responsibilities, the mayor has assigned oversight of the Christmas programme to Dr Pat Daly, the council’s director general. With less than three months remaining until the holiday season, local leaders are expressing apprehension about the quality and extent of this year’s festivities. Cllr Catherine Slattery, the leader of the Fianna Fáil group in the metropolitan area, described the situation as “a farce,” stating, “Something is wrong here, something is not working out. This isn’t a blame game. It’s about the citizens of Limerick who deserve a good Christmas.”

Following a contentious council meeting last week, the five metropolitan councillors from Fine Gael issued a strong statement criticizing Mayor Moran’s decision. They labelled the delegation of responsibility as an “act of political cowardice” and an “abdication of duty,” claiming it has jeopardised preparations for the festive season in Limerick.

A sub-committee has been working since the beginning of the year to enhance the Christmas programme, aiming to provide more options than in previous years. Yet, with the current uncertainty, it is unclear how much of their planned offerings will be realised. Cllr Shane Hickey-O’Mara from the Social Democrats voiced his frustrations, noting that many residents chose to visit other cities last year instead of Limerick. “Councillors in that committee have been working really hard on the ground all year. It’s not fair their work is being overshadowed by the politics of this,” he said.

Calls for collaboration across party lines have emerged, with Cllr Hickey-O’Mara emphasizing the need for unity. “We are not here for each other’s political egos. We are here for Limerick – that’s our job,” he stated. This sentiment was echoed by Cllr Sharon Benson of Sinn Féin and Cllr Ursula Gavan, an Independent councillor. Cllr Benson accused Fine Gael of attempting to undermine the mayor’s authority, stressing the urgency to deliver the Christmas programme as planned.

Cllr Gavan added, “We need to get a programme of events up and running and advertised. There will be plenty of time after Christmas to review the planning or lack of it.”

Despite the political turmoil, Fine Gael representatives affirmed their commitment to ensuring a complete Christmas programme is delivered. Questions regarding the situation were sent to both the council and Mayor Moran by Limerick Live. Although a public statement was anticipated from the mayor on Thursday, it has not yet been issued. As of Sunday night, there was no response to the inquiries made by Limerick Live.

As the clock ticks down to December, the future of Limerick’s Christmas festivities hangs in the balance, with local leaders urging swift action to ensure a successful celebration.