Fianna Fail city councillor Dick Sadlier was elected mayor of Limerick yesterday evening. Mr Sadlier, an accountant who lectures in finance and law at Limerick Institute of Technology, was mayor for 12 months in 1994/95 when he was a member of the Progressive Democrats.
From Wickham Street in the city centre, he now lives in Castletroy. He said it was an exciting time to be mayor with the infrastructural improvements taking place but one of his main concerns was the treatment of elderly people. "I do feel they are a group which have been short-changed and certainly during my time as mayor, I will have an open door to anyone who is experiencing those problems."
Mr Sadlier has been a member of the city council since 1991 and left the Progressive Democrats to join Fianna Fail in 1998. He replaces Cllr John Ryan, of Labour, as mayor.
Mr Batt O'Keefffe, TD (FF) has been elected chairman of the Southern Health Board. Mr O'Keeffe is also chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children. He succeeds Mr Michael Cahill (FF). Dr Catherine Molloy was reelected vice-chairperson. Mr Bernard Allen TD (FG), the only contender for the chair said while he never expected to win, he was putting down a marker about "the unhealthy and unholy alliance between Fianna Fail and the medical profession" on the health board.