Two independents leading the race to become Limerick’s new mayor

The race to become Ireland’s first ever directly-elected mayor will not be finalised until Monday, but tallying throughout the day has put John Moran - a former secretary general in the Department of Finance - in the lead, at 24 per cent.

Helen O’Donnell is eight points behind on 16 per cent - but could prove more transfer friendly when it comes to eliminating the next closest contenders, Fianna Fáil’s Dee Ryan on 15 per cent and Daniel Butler of Fine Gael on 13 per cent.

While both popular in Limerick City, Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan and independent councillor Frankie Daly stand at just 11 and 6 per cent, respectively.
Green Party TD Brian Leddin is on 3 per cent.

Attention in Limerick now turns to the local election count.

The mayoral votes have been boxed and will be kept under lock and key until Monday morning, when that count is scheduled to begin.