John Moran (Mayor of Limerick) facts for kids

John Moran, born in 1965 or 1966, is an Irish politician. He was chosen as the Mayor of Limerick in the 2024 Limerick mayoral election. This was a very important election because it was the first time people in Limerick directly voted for their mayor. Mr. Moran officially started his job on June 21, 2024.

Early Life and Education

John Moran was born in Birmingham, England. When he was young, his family lived on a farm in Patrickswell, which is in County Limerick. Later, they moved to Dooradoyle. He went to St Paul's national school in Dooradoyle. After that, he attended CBS Sexton Street in Limerick city.

He continued his studies at University College Dublin, where he earned a law degree. He then went to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. There, he earned a master's degree.

Working Life and Public Service

After finishing his master's degree, John Moran became a lawyer. He worked in Wall Street in New York City for three years. Wall Street is a famous area known for its financial businesses. In 1990, he came back to Ireland to get an Irish law qualification. He then returned to the United States to manage the New York office for a law firm called McCann Fitzgerald. Later, he worked as an investment banker for Zurich Financial Services. In 2004, Mr. Moran moved to Paris, France, and started his own juice bar business there.

From 2012 to 2014, John Moran held a very important job in the Irish government. He was the secretary-general of the Department of Finance. This department helps manage Ireland's money and economy. He was chosen for this role by the finance minister at the time, Michael Noonan.

Becoming Mayor of Limerick

On February 27, 2024, John Moran announced he would run for Mayor of Limerick. He ran as an independent candidate. This meant he was not part of a specific political party. The 2024 Limerick mayoral election was special because it was the first time citizens directly elected their mayor. This means the mayor is chosen by the people, not by other politicians.

He officially started his campaign on April 8 at a hotel in Newcastle West. The election happened on June 7. John Moran received 22.9% of the first votes people cast. He was elected after several rounds of counting votes. On June 21, 2024, he was officially sworn in as Mayor. The ceremony took place at St Mary's Cathedral, which is the oldest building in Limerick.