There was a surprise at the Limerick City Council meeting last night when Mr Joe Harrington (Independent Socialist), a Mid-Western Health Board worker, was elected mayor of Limerick.
A former member of the People's Democracy, he received 10 votes. He was proposed and seconded by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail and won the support of the Independents.
He defeated Cllr Frank Prendergast (Labour) who received seven votes.
Cllr Harrington, who has been a member of the city council for 19 years, was praised for his work for the people of Southill.
Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Branley was unanimously elected the new mayor of Sligo yesterday. Cllr Branley, a local businessman, is the first representative from the town's North Ward to become mayor since 1989.
