The Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, has hosted the traditional Mayor’s Fundraising Dinner 2026 – the second of his five-year term - on Friday 17th April in the Limerick Strand Hotel.
Full text of Speech - Available here --- Final Speech Mayoral Dinner 2026
Media Release:
Mayor’s Fundraising Dinner 2026 takes place with funds to be donated to Parkinsons Ireland, Mid-West branch
Images: Credit: Keith Wiseman
The Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, has hosted the traditional Mayor’s Fundraising Dinner 2026 – the second of his five-year term - on Friday 17th April in the Limerick Strand Hotel.
Mayor Moran, who father had Parkinsons, has chosen the Parkinsons Ireland, Mid-West Ireland as the charity partner for this year, with ‘Theatre in Limerick” the theme for the event.
The fundraising Dinner was a sell out with a record over 460 guests attended on the evening, including Limerick’s civic leaders, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Terry Coleman, the Cathlaoireach of Clare County Council Paul Murphy and Deputy Maurice Quinlivan and elected representatives from Limerick Council.
Reflecting the Mayor’s wishes to use the event to showcase the best of Limerick, again like last year, the evening menu was based around local Limerick food producers, reflecting his significant commitment to supporting the Limerick food sector.
Cathy O’Halloran MC’d proceedings on the evening.
The evening also celebrated the tradition of theatre in Limerick with a display of historic and recent posters, a miniature model of Granny and a video showcasing the work of The College Players, amateur dramatic group, who celebrate 100 years of performing in 2026; along with references to the Torch players who celebrate 50 years and the Panto which is 40 years old. Ann Blake and Catherine Ireton performed the key song from “Connie” which took place in October 2025 at the Theatre Royal.
The Theatre Royal was also featured in an impressive painting by LSAD graduate Paddy Critchley which was acquired by the Mayor’s Art Acquisition Fund. The Mayor hopes to house this painting on public view at the Royal item, when renovations are complete.
The 2026 Mayoral Distinguished Service Award was accepted on behalf of An Garda Siochana by Chief Superintendent Derek Smart. It was granted to An Garda Siochana for their outstanding service to public safety and health in Limerick including the innovative CAST programme and the significant increases in community and “on the beat” policing over the last year.
Numerous raffle prizes donated by sponsors were won on the night the evening’s best dressed female and male awards were won by Mags Enright and Anthony Gaffney
Sporting a newly commissioned Mayoral waistcoat featuring embroidery reflecting motifs from the Mayoral chain and designed by LSAD graduates Gregor and Hong, the Mayor gave his annual address which received a warm standing ovation at the end.
Echoing the theme of the night, the Mayor wondered what if Limerick itself is a play, not finished, not simple, but rich with history, conflict, and remarkable characters — from Patrick Sarsfield to Thomas Spring Rice, from Jim Kemmy to Vicky Phelan and right now—we are somewhere between Act II and Act III.
Speaking about Act II, he noted that this is where the future is really decided. And then returning to Limerick he noted “We cannot say we want a better Limerick—and hold on to yesterday’s thinking. We cannot say we want homes—and then resist the change needed to build them. We cannot say we want opportunity—and hesitate when it arrives. Because successful places do not drift into success—they choose it. And they work hard for it.”
Concluding by thinking of Act III he noted that “Because now—we are writing Act III in Limerick’s story. And here’s the thing—the ending is not guaranteed. It depends on the choices we all make. So the question is simple—
Are we going to sit in the audience—or step onto the stage?”
Exhorting the audience to become the cast of Limerick’s Act III he explained “Because we are not just living in Limerick’s story—we are writing it ourselves every day. It is our time. And this next act—is ours to write. It is our time.”
Full text of Speech - Available here --- Final Speech Mayoral Dinner 2026
ENDS