Limerick councillor Elisa O'Donovan to stand for Social Democrats in race for first elected mayor

Limerick West councillor Elisa O'Donovan: 'I want to build a Limerick that is fair, creative, prosperous and healthy. I want to build safer spaces for everyone in our city and county. I want to prioritise better public services and amenities so we can build strong and healthy communities.' Picture: Press 22

Limerick West councillor Elisa O'Donovan will be the Social Democrats candidate in the race to become Limerick's first directly-elected mayor.

Ms O’Donovan, who became the first Social Democrats representative elected in Munster in 2019, said she was “hugely ambitious for Limerick and its future".

The speech and language therapist, who grew up in Rathkeale, said her work had "taught me valuable lessons about the resilience of the people who live here; the strength of our local communities; and the deficits we have in so many of our important services".

“My vision for Limerick is very clear. I want to build a Limerick that is fair, creative, prosperous and healthy. I want to build safer spaces for everyone in our city and county. I want to prioritise better public services and amenities so we can build strong and healthy communities.

“A key focus will also be the environment and ensuring Limerick becomes the greenest and cleanest county in the country. Crucially, I also believe that we need much more transparency and accountability in local authority decision-making and much greater engagement with the public."

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said Ms O'Donovan “has been a fantastic councillor for Limerick City West and has worked extremely hard since she was elected in 2019".

“Limerick is a fantastic place with so much potential. What is required is someone with the right vision, skillset and work ethic to drive the city and county forward.

“Elisa has all of those attributes. She has a deep love of Limerick and a deep desire to improve it, in every respect, for everyone who lives there. As a frontline health worker and councillor, she is also committed to public service and knowledgeable about local government."

Ms O'Donovan joins a ballot which already contains Green Party TD Brian Leddin, People Before Profit's Rúairí Fahy, former Limerick Chamber CEO Dee Ryan, who will be the Fianna Fáil nominee, and former secretary general of the Department of Finance John Moran, and businesswoman Helen O'Donnell, who are both aiming to be independent candidates.