'I believe that I can win a seat': Councillors eyeing up spot in Leinster House

IN the wake of last week’s local elections, another Cork city councillor has announced their interest in running for a Dáil seat at the next general election.

It comes as a number of Cork’s returning councillors have announced that they have their eyes on Leinster House.

The first city councillor to be declared elected, Fianna Fáil’s Tony Fitzgerald topped the poll in Cork City North West on Saturday, and immediately put his party on notice that it is his intention to seek a nomination to run in the next general election.

An hour or so later, just before midnight, Independent Ireland councillor Kenneth O’Flynn topped the poll in Cork City North West and declared that he will be standing for the Dáil the next time out.

Fianna Fáil county councillor Seamus McGrath, re-elected in Carrigaline by the highest number of first preference votes in the country, declared that “if an opportunity arises to have a run for the general election and to the Dáil, then that is something I would be open to and would welcome”.

Similarly, John Paul O’Shea, re-elected as Fine Gael county councillor in Kanturk/Mallow, told The Echo that on the back on his strong showing, he will be seeking a Dáil nomination in the Cork North West constituency in the forthcoming general election.

Now, Fine Gael city councillor Shane O’Callaghan, who topped the poll in Cork City South Central, has announced that he too intends to seek his party’s nomination when the Government decides to go to the country.

“I believe that I can win a seat for Fine Gael in Cork South Central in the General Election,” he said.

“I was the first Fine Gael candidate ever to top the poll in my local electoral area last week. My strong track record as a hard-working public representative who has delivered locally along with a tireless election campaign delivered a very strong performance in the local election.”

A practicing barrister, Mr O’Callaghan said he believed it was important that what he called “the new energy that Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has brought to the party” was also harnessed in Cork with new, fresh faces.

“I believe that it is essential that Fine Gael now offers the electorate of Cork South Central a fresh, new candidate with the same energy who can work hard and deliver for Cork, both locally and nationally,” he said.

The current Fine Gael TD in Cork South Central, former tánaiste Simon Coveney, has insisted he intends to run again, denying rumours that he might retire or run in the neighbouring Cork East constituency.

Senator Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, has made no secret of his own intention to run in Cork South Central next time out.