'We have lots to do': Cork’s newest senator sets out his priorities ahead of Seanad term 

Cork’s newest senator, who previously left politics to become a garda, has said he is deeply humbled to be one of the Taoiseach’s 11 Seanad nominees.

Fine Gael county councillor Noel O’Donovan, has been appointed a senator by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, after losing out on a seat in Cork South-West in November’s general election.

First co-opted to Cork County Council for the West Cork local electoral area in 2011, he was elected in 2014, but in 2017 he left politics to join An Garda Síochána, where, he said, he had “continued working for the people”.

Approached by Fine Gael to return to politics when former TD Jim Daly retired, Mr O’Donovan successfully ran again for the county council in the 2024 local elections, topping the poll in the Skibbereen electoral area.

Mr O’Donovan told The Echo he believed he was “fairly unique” in returning to politics after a time away.

“Politics is something that I find extremely rewarding, because doing the smallest thing for someone can help to change their life,” he said.

“I say to people the whole time, politics does matter, it affects our basic infrastructure, it affects our schools, our disability services, climate issues, the decisions you get to be involved in shape the whole world around us.”

Mr O’Donovan described politics as “a job I love”, saying he looked forward to working for his community in the Oireachtas.

“We have lots to do, in terms of housing and infrastructure here in West Cork, we need to do much more in the field of disabilities and improving services, there’s lots to do and I’m excited by the challenge.

“I do politics to better communities, to better individuals, and I’m delighted to have that position now on the national stage to be able to speak for West Cork,” he said.

“It’s an honour and deeply humbling to be appointed by the leader of my party and ultimately by the Taoiseach to represent Cork South West.”

Mr O’Donovan’s appointment as one of five Fine Gael senators in Mr Martin’s selection, alongside six Fianna Fáil nominees, brings to six Cork’s crop of new senators, trebling the number the county had in the previous Seanad.

Of Cork’s two previous senators, former Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer was elected to the Dáil as a Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, while former Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard lost his seat.

Mr O’Donovan will join five other first-time Cork senators, including Fine Gael colleagues Eileen Lynch and Garret Kelleher, and Fianna Fáil’s Margaret Murphy O’Mahony, Labour’s Laura Harmon and Sinn Féin’s Nicole Ryan.

The Taoiseach is set to advise President Higgins that the first meeting of the new Seanad should be on Wednesday, February 12.