SINN Féin city councillor Shane O’Shea has announced that he will not contest the next council elections taking place in May 2019.

Cllr O’Shea was first elected to the South East ward in 2014 alongside Sinn Féin colleague Chris O’Leary.

He said the rental crisis has forced his family to live outside the South East ward and said he could not serve the people for another five years whilst no longer living amongst them.

A selection convention for the party will take place in the Mahon community Centre this evening where former Lord Mayor, Cllr O’Leary, is expected to be re-selected.

However, Cllr O’Shea said he is not putting his name forward.

“Having given the matter huge consideration over the past 18 months, I have decided not to seek my party’s nomination at the upcoming selection convention.

“I have found it increasingly difficult to fulfill the role of an elected representative alongside that of my full-time role, a role involving frequent travel.”

“My work-life balance has been out of kilter for the last couple of years and I intend to remedy this by spending more quality time with my wife and son.

“Also, my family has suffered from the scandalous rental crisis in the city, resulting in us having to relocate outside of my constituency. I do not feel I could serve the people of Cork South East for another five years whilst no longer living amongst them,” he said.

“It has been a huge honour to serve the people of Cork South East as a Sinn Fein councillor since 2014. While not one to actively court the media side of being a public rep too keenly, I believe I served the most needy in my community to the best of my ability.”

Cllr O’Shea thanked the executive branch of Cork City Council, his fellow councillors and the seven other Sinn Fein elected reps describing them as life-long comrades.

Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire paid tribute to Shane O'Shea for his contribution to Cork City and to Sinn Féin in recent years. 

"He has been a first-rate public representative and republican, a vocal advocate for issues of equality, for investment in our city, for public transport and ambitious growth, as well as a stalwart activist for his ward and his local community."

The South East ward of Cork City Council will be reduced from seven seats to six next May and also sees the addition of the Douglas suburb which moves from the county.

Fine Gael councillor for the South East Laura McGonigle has also confirmed that she will not be seeking re-election next May.

Sinn Féin is expected to hold a convention for the South Central ward later this week where sitting councillor Fiona Kerins is expected to be selected along with county councillor Eoghan Jeffers.