Speech by Mayor of Limerick John Moran at Mayor's Charity Dinner 2025

1. Welcome & Thanks:

Seriously, I hope you’re having a good evening, already everyone. It’s fantastic to see so many of you here tonight for what’s become a real highlight of the Limerick year—our annual mayoral charity dinner.

Tonight’s about celebrating Limerick and that means you and everything that makes Limerick such a brilliant place to live and work.

But first, I want to give a big, warm Limerick welcome to all of you—whether you’re here from local businesses, government agencies, representing your community, or just part of the Limerick family.  A special welcome to all of those who travelled here to be with us tonight.  I hope you brought your sun-tan lotion. We tend to find that visitors from other parts of Ireland are not used to the intense good Limerick weather so make sure in the morning when you wander out to savour all the Riverfest activities that you put on the protection.  That is especially for the table up here beside me with all of the folks from Donegal!

I want to extend a huge welcome to our special friends the Lord Mayors of Belfast and Cork, the Cathoirleach of the Southern Regional Assembly who travelled from Carlow and of course our friends and colleagues who travelled all the way from Clare.  I hope you appreciate that we made sure for you that we chose a location on your side of the River Shannon so you did not have to struggle with the trauma of actually crossing all the way across the Shannon River.

I hate singling out people but the presence of those who travelled means a huge amount to me personally indeed to us all in Limerick.  I above all realise how many events you get invited to all through the year so the fact that you’ve each chosen to share this night with us really shows the strength of the bonds we’re building between all our cities and regions.

I also want to say a massive thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make tonight happen—the brilliant organising team directed by Kieran Lehane and in particular Martin and Eleanor in my office and also Fran of Futurama Produtions and Stephen O’Connor and the team here in the hotel. 

But they were not alone.   So many people have contributed in their own way, helping with graphic design, printing, sponsoring the dance performers, the amazing spot prizes you can see listed on the tables, helping produce the special Limerick based menu, the amazing showcase of Film in Limerick. And how can I forget my own partner Damien who not only spent hours on conference calls and Excel spreadsheets but had the extra hard job of keeping me sane during the exercise.     

In truth, the seating plans must be the worst things about a dinner organisation but I should give advance warning in case the AIB or A Boy the Kid tables decide to change their name to get closer to the bar next year, watch out.  The coin we flipped might decide to do it in reverse alphabetical order next year.

I also want to thank the others from the mayoral office and front desk at LCCC who volunteered to be here tonight helping on the final details and making sure Limerick is putting its best foot forward.

Indeed, there is no better opportunity tonight to acknowledge the commitment and work that those in LCCC, led by Director General Dr Pat Daly, and, in particular, the teams on our third floor of City Hall and especially in the Mayor’s office have given me since my election.    Setting up a totally new structure with a hyper-active mayor with over 28,000 voters chasing him down with good ideas for Limerick has naturally been a challenge but one we all relish as at the end of the day we do it for Limerick and we all know we are making the difference that being in public service is all about.  

Can I also thank the other volunteers, the chefs and servers, the performers, our camera man and AV crew and all the other folks behind the scenes. You’re doing an amazing job and created something really special for us all to enjoy.

Tonight’s not just about great food and entertainment—though we’ve got plenty of both! It’s a chance for us all to pause, look at what we’ve achieved together, and get excited about what’s coming next. And make sure that we are not shy about letting people know how great Limerick is.

2. Personal Story & Cancer Awareness:

But it is also something more.  Many of you also know that my path to standing here as your mayor wasn’t without its challenges. Not long before the election, after a life-saving operation at the Galway Clinic, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Two major surgeries and six months of chemotherapy followed. I am one of the lucky ones—the treatment worked, and today I am healthy and deeply grateful."

Most of us in this room have been touched by cancer in some way. Only last week, I lost a dear friend from my UCD days to this awful disease. And I know some of you here tonight are fighting your own battles—some of them silent, unseen. Please know: tonight and every night, you have our deepest respect and support.

Cancer is never a battle fought alone. I’ll never forget how much I leaned on my incredible mum and sister, on friends old and new, and on the broader community. Their kindness and strength carried me through.

But one very special friend deserves a mention tonight. He arrived in my life at just the right time, knowing exactly what I needed—whether it was a quiet cuddle on tough days or a burst of energy when I felt stronger. Sadly, he can’t be here in person—but for those of you who’ve been asking, 'Where is he?'—I am delighted to present... Henri, the First Dog of Limerick!   Ready and willing for any photos required.

(Reveal the life-size cutout of Henri in his bow tie!)

And while Henri’s been a wonderful companion, he can’t hold a candle to my partner of over ten years, Damien. Damien not only got me through my treatment and the election but continues to support me every day—often late into the night—as I navigate this new role. He’s even taken up gardening (which I know cannot hold a candle to his books as a favourite pasttime!). A big thank you, too, to his wonderful family, who’ve travelled all the way from Donegal to be here tonight—it means the world to have you with us.

In truth the brush with mortality fundamentally changed me. It deepened my belief in awareness, early detection, and access to care.

That’s why tonight isn’t just about celebration—it’s also about making a real difference. Together, we’re raising funds for bowel cancer awareness and prevention, in partnership with the Marie Keating Foundation. I’m pleased we’ll be hearing more from them later tonight.

Thank you to all the companies, organizations, so many of our own councillors and civic leaders and individuals who bought tickets and tables—you’ve already made a huge impact. Later, we’ll have a raffle with fantastic prizes—details are on your tables. If you feel able to contribute more, that’s wonderful—but let me be clear: your presence here tonight is already a generous gift. Entry to the raffle is open to everyone, as a thank you for standing with us.

3. Celebrating Limerick:

Before we move deeper into tonight’s theme, I want to pause for a moment to reflect on what this evening is really about: celebrating Limerick.

When I first imagined this annual dinner, my goal was simple: to shine a light on the best of who we are and what we can achieve together. And tonight, I hope you’ve already had a taste—literally and figuratively—of just how special Limerick is.

Every part of this evening has been designed to showcase the incredible talent, creativity, and enterprise that define Limerick. From the menu you’re enjoying—built around the finest local produce and culinary talent—to the musical performances from artists rooted in our city or training right here at our university. We’re celebrating our thriving fashion industry and we’re honouring one of our remarkable young female entrepreneurs who represents the next generation of Limerick’s business leaders.

And as many of you saw on your way into the dinner, we’ve also put a spotlight on Limerick’s burgeoning film industry—an industry that is growing in ambition and reputation, and which is putting our city on the cultural map in new and exciting ways.

But this evening is about more than food, music, awards, or even film. It’s about pride—pride in Limerick’s past, pride in our achievements today, pride in the incredible future we are building together and pride in the universal welcome Limerick offers to everyone.

You’ll have perhaps noted that one of the starters you enjoyed just now was made with ingredients from Athea—a small village with deep roots in my own family’s story. My grandparents lived there, and my father left school and emigrated from Athea to the UK, like so many others from this region.  In the UK, he met my mother, herself originally from East Kerry. Their story like those of so many who are part of Limerick’s story—a story of resilience, of seeking out new opportunities, and of staying connected to home.

And tonight, we remember not just those who left Limerick and perhaps never had the chance to come back—but also the many wonderful neighbours and friends we now have here in Limerick, some here with us this evening, who themselves embarked on similar journeys and now build their lives among us.  We want them to know that our home is their home now too.

That’s what defines Limerick: a place which celebrates it edginess along with its embrace and openness that make Limerick a true home for all.

4. Theme Introduction:

Tonight’s I wanted to reflect a little on ‘This past year of Progress, A Future of Promise: Each powered by Partnership.’ Three ideas that tell the story of where we’ve been—and where we’re going.

This year, we’ve seen real steps forward for Limerick — under our newly elected council and directly elected mayor, we’ve seen housing built (but of course not enough still), safer streets for our families, new jobs for our workers and started building sites actioned on some key infrastructure projects. These aren’t just projects; they are progress that touches people’s lives, every single day.

There is real promise right before our eyes. We are not just looking back—we are looking ahead. The promise of tomorrow is more opportunity, more fairness, more hope. A promise that every person in Limerick will have the chance to thrive, no matter their background or their neighborhood.

And third, partnership. Because none of this happens alone. It happens when people come together. People listen. People act. It happens when we work as neighbours, as allies, as one community, united in purpose.

This past year has shown us that progress is possible, promise is real, and partnership is powerful. And as we look to the future, we know that the heart of it all is people—people who care, people who work together, people who believe the world can be better.

5. Progress Highlights:

This year, we’ve worked hard to deliver real results—a vision of a Limerick that’s more liveable, more prosperous, and healthier for everyone. This isn’t just talk—it’s action, step by step, challenge by challenge.  Every week we add a couple more pieces to the large jigsaw which will be the Limerick of the future.

First, liveability.

We’ve pushed housing forward: for example, this week signing contracts to develop state lands in Moyross near the new train station for which we hope planning permission will be lodged now before the summer. 

Importantly, at scale, we’ve been progressing with the LDA and I want to acknowledge their CEO and team’s presence here tonight, plans for thousands of new homes in the Colbert Quarter, Docklands, and key brownfield sites.

We’re advancing parklands, seeking to unlock infrastructure like water to enable sites in our county towns, and pushing national government to invest where it’s needed most.

These aren’t easy fixes, but momentum is building—and people are beginning to feel it.

Second, prosperity.

Limerick’s job creation record is very strong, and we’re building on that.

Despite global turmoil, new businesses are arriving, existing ones are expanding, and we’re ensuring this growth reaches every part of Limerick.  We’re trialling new approaches, for example, with the traders of Kilmallock, right here beside me with Councillor Greg Conway.   The Limerick Gift Card is well established now and let’s keep pushing so that it grows even more central to retail in Limerick this year.

There is a lot of exciting work about to kick off in earnest.  New proposals for the Milk Market, for Arthur’s Quay, and a large government office building at the heart of Opera Square.  We want to have a renewed focus on our Georgian core—including innovative trials like Twilight Thursday—are all part of reinvigorating our city centre which we all know can do with a boost, especially before the much needed housing is built there to bring further business to the doorsteps of our retailers.

And how can we forget in two years Limerick will be host to the Ryder Cup one of the world’s largest sporting events?

Third, health and well-being.

We’ve a renewed focus on working to expand local health and mental health programs.  We’ve begun more investment in parks, sports facilities, and green spaces.  I myself hope to travel with officials to Turkey before the summer to sign contracts for Limerick to become a WHO Healthy City, something we applied for last year.

Every new home, every new service, every new amenity brings new hope—and reminds us why we’re pushing so hard.

Often in my job, I think of two young children who came up to me last August to thank me for the beach and games we had installed at the Crescent when we closed it down as an amenity for local residents who were not able to travel to Kilkee and Ballybunion. They were living sheltering in a nearby hotel with their mother and this was their playground and where they had met new friends.  Happily, a teacher who’s actually here tonight came to me a couple of months later to express her surprise when she recognised one of them arrive into her own classroom. The great news is they had found a permanent home out hear Castletroy. 

Stories like these remind us why this work matters so deeply.

There’s so much more to do, but make no mistake: we are moving forward.

6. Vision for the Future:

Our vision for Limerick, as one of the best places to live in Europe, has never been limited by borders. I believe in a Limerick that stretches far beyond its boundaries—a Limerick that collaborates with its neighbors and trades across the globe. A Limerick that sees opportunity not just here at home, but everywhere we can build bridges and create partnerships.

That’s why I’m especially proud to welcome, for the first time at this annual dinner, the Mayors of Cork and Belfast. Your presence here tonight reflects the growing bonds between our cities, and the shared commitment we have to making this island stronger, more connected, and more prosperous.

Since my election, I’ve made international outreach a priority—because I believe a place that reaches out is a place that moves forward. Maybe that comes from living in so many places myself.

In this short time, we’ve signed agreements with Austin, Texas, and Savannah, Georgia—building cultural and economic ties that will benefit our people for years to come. I was honored to be the first Irish elected official to visit our ambassador in Washington after the U.S. elections and our own national elections—meeting with both Democratic and Republican leaders to make sure our city’s voice is heard at the highest levels.

The presence of the Mayor of Belfast is an especially powerful symbol of growing cooperation between North and South—a reminder of just how far we’ve come, and what’s possible when we work together in partnership.

It reminds me of the Peace Process—a time when hope seemed fragile, and peace seemed out of reach. But through courage, dialogue, and determination, people came together to build something extraordinary when the people themselves refused to give up on hope.

And today, as we look out at the world, that message feels more urgent than ever. Whether it is in places like Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan or Kashmir we see painful, heart-wrenching reminders of how fragile peace can be—and how vital it is to work for it, every single day.

We are now laying the foundations now for a better place for ourselves here in Limerick, a place where health, well-bring and opportunity are woven into every neighbourhood and every like. We are acting now. And together—with the same spirit of partnership that built peace on this island—we will build a future full of promise for all our people.

7. Closing: Call to Optimism & Unity:

Tonight, we’ve reflected on the progress we’ve made—a year of real action, of challenges met and changes delivered. We’ve shared a vision for the future—a future full of promise, where every person has the chance to thrive. And we’ve celebrated the power of partnership—the idea that together, there is nothing we cannot achieve.

What makes me most proud is this: everything we’ve accomplished, and everything we aspire to, is powered by our people. Our workers, our volunteers, our business owners, our educators, our community leaders—all of you, who give your time, your energy, and your heart to this city every single day.

We know the work is not finished. We know there are hurdles still ahead. But we also know this: we are moving forward. We are stronger together. And the best days of our city are still to come.

So let’s keep pushing. Let’s keep building. And let’s keep believing in the promise of what we can achieve—together.

Thank you all for being here tonight. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and here’s to another year of progress and promise for Limerick and all our people.