John Moran (Mayor of Limerick)

John Moran is an Irish politician who was elected as the Mayor of Limerick, following the 2024 Limerick mayoral election. He was inaugurated on 21 June 2024.[1]

John Moran
Mayor of Limerick
Assumed office
21 June 2024
Personal details
BornBirmingham, England
NationalityIrish
Political partyIndependent
EducationCBS Sexton Street
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
Websitejohnmoran.ie

Early life

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Born in Birmingham, Moran was raised on his family's farm in Patrickswell, County Limerick and later in Dooradoyle.[2][3] He attended St Paul's national school in Dooradoyle, and CBS Sexton Street in Limerick.[1]

He obtained a law degree at University College Dublin, followed by a master's from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.[1]

Career

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Following his master's degree, Moran passed the New York state bar and worked as a lawyer on Wall Street for three years. He returned to Ireland in 1990 to attain an Irish law qualification, before returning to the United States to run the New York office of McCann Fitzgerald. He later worked as an investment banker with Zurich Financial Services.[1][4] In 2004, Moran moved to Paris and set up a juice bar there.[4]

He was the secretary-general of the Department of Finance from 2012 to 2014, having been appointed by finance minister Michael Noonan.[5]

Controversies

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It was reported that John Moran was involved in the international Uber leaks scandal in 2022 when official lobbying register shows RHH International - the consultancy owned by former Department of Finance secretary general John Moran - did not declare contacts with former ministers Michael Noonan and Frances Fitzgerald, and senior civil servant Graham Doyle concerning Uber business. Moran was paid €10,000 by Uber to lobby government ministers to change Irish taxi regulations so it could enter the market.[6]

Mayor of Limerick

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On 27 February 2024, Moran announced that he would stand as an independent candidate for the 2024 Limerick mayoral election, the first directly-elected head of local government in Ireland.[7][8] He launched his campaign at a hotel in Newcastle West on 8 April.[9] The election took place on 7 June. Moran received 22.9% of first-preference votes and was elected on the 12th count.[10] He was inaugurated at a ceremony at Limerick's oldest building, St Mary's Cathedral, on 21 June 2024.[11][12]

Personal life

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He is a gay man,[13] and has a partner named Damien.[2]

In 2022, Moran revealed to Matt Cooper in a radio interview that he had bowel cancer.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "John Moran is the first directly elected Mayor of Limerick". Live 95. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "'An emotional day': John Moran elected Mayor of Limerick in national first". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  3. ^ Ó Broin, Cian (11 June 2024). "John Moran crowned Limerick's first ever directly-elected mayor in historic victory". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Moran's route to Limerick Mayor via French juice bar". RTÉ News. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Who is John Moran, Limerick's first directly-elected mayor?". Irish Examiner. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  6. ^ Carswell, Simon; Beesley, Arthur (11 July 2022). "Full Uber contacts with government not disclosed in lobbying returns". Irish Times. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Former Finance Chief announces intention to run for historic new role in Limerick". Live 95. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  8. ^ "First Independent candidate for Limerick's directly elected mayor confirmed". Limerick Leader. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Moran launches campaign to be directly elected mayor". Limerick Leader. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Mayor of Limerick Election Results". Limerick City and County Council. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  11. ^ Martyn, Petula (21 June 2024). "Limerick sees strength in its diversity, says new mayor". RTÉ.ie.
  12. ^ https://www.limerick.ie/council/newsroom/news/first-ever-inauguration-of-a-directly-elected-mayor-of-limerick
  13. ^ "Mayoral Candidate John Moran Says Splitting Dept Of Finance Was Wrong". Business Plus. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
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