Scholar and author Dr Matthew Potter worked for Limerick City Council for over 28 years before he decided to pursue one of his biggest passions full time. The rest, they say, is history.

Matthew’s third book examining Limerick’s rich heritage—First Citizens of the Treaty City:The Mayors and Mayoralty of Limerick 1197-2007—was recently published and reveals some lesser known facts about the city including information on
which mayor welcomed the first serving US President to Limerick.

Though born in Donegal, the historian’s parents were both from Clarina—he says he has “dual citizenship”—and after moving to Limerick 30 years ago he became immersed in local history.

“The book is a very detailed and scholarly account of the mayors of the city and shows how their impact has been of crucial importance for over 800 years. It consists of two parts: a history of the office of Mayor from its establishment in the twelfth century to the present day and an account of each Mayor since 1842,” he said.

“I studied part-time while working and graduated from the University of London with a first class honours degree in history in 1989 and from NUI Galway in 2002 with a PhD in history. Now I’m on secondment from Limerick City Council because I was appointed to the staff of the History Department in UL, where I work as an IRCHSS Postdoctoral Fellow.”

Matthew’s first book, a biography of William Monsell of Tervoe was published in 1994, but he is also well known for producing ‘The Government and the People of Limerick: The History of Limerick Corporation/City Council 1197-2006’ last year.

He paid tribute to council staff for helping to bring his interests to the next level, including Brendan Keating, Conn Murray, Tom Mackey, Pat Dowling, Oliver O’Loughlin and City Library staff, Dolores Doyle and Geraldine Costelloe.