'I’ve always tried to champion people’s voices': Former lord mayor of Cork to seek nomination for presidential election

A former lord mayor of Cork has announced that he intends to seek a nomination for next month’s presidential election.

Kieran McCarthy, an Independent member of Cork City Council, told The Echo he will seek the nominations of four local authorities, beginning on Monday afternoon in Tralee with Kerry County Council.

The election of President Michael D Higgins’ successor will occur on Friday, October 24, and for candidates to get on the ballot, they need the nominations of four of Ireland’s 31 local authorities, or at least 20 Oireachtas members.

Asked why he had decided to seek a nomination, Mr McCarthy said he believed that many seeking the presidency in the past had not looked at the untapped potential of the office.

“The first question I asked myself is ‘Do I have something to say that’s positive and productive in this debate?’ And I think that, after 16 years as a public representative, I do,” he said.

“I’ve watched presidents for years, and I’ve been inspired by the presidents in how they champion people’s stories and people’s voices, and I’ve always tried to champion people’s voices.” 

First elected a councillor for the Cork City South East ward in 2009, Mr McCarthy has been re-elected three times, and from 2023 to 2024 he served as lord mayor.

A figure who describes his politics as “neither left nor right”, Mr McCarthy is a respected historian who has written dozens of books on Cork’s history.

His time as Cork’s first citizen was enlivened by his delivery of favourite show tunes in his rich tenor, with “ Oh What a Beautiful Morning” from the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! becoming a signature song.

Mr McCarthy said he had been struck by how “reductionist” discussions about the presidency had become, and he wanted to concentrate on the positive opportunities open to the presidency.

“I’ve had a lot of experience working with communities and I’m of the view that what Pádraig Pearse called the soul of the Irish, that needs to be upheld, as presidents in the past have upheld it,” he said.

Mr McCarthy said he saw scope for the presidency “splicing together” the work of various State cultural agencies, and for expanding the connections between Ireland and its diaspora, linking in local authorities.

“During my mayoralty I had a ‘Voices of Cork’ project, I think there is an opportunity for a ‘Voices of Ireland’.” 

He said he had, as lord mayor, met President Higgins twice, and had been inspired by him.

“He’s a really down-to-earth gentleman, he’s done so much to champion the country, he’s been a fantastic public servant.

“If you look to President Higgins, President McAleese, they were strong champions of cultural heritage, people’s voices, social justice, they’re all things I have tried to champion in my own life as a public representative and as a historian,” he said.

Mr McCarthy will be one of 16 people seeking the Kerry nomination, and he said he was under no illusion about how difficult a challenge it would be to get the nominations of four local authorities.

“I’m in politics long enough to know how cruel it can be, but I think I have something positive and practical to propose, so I’ll give it a spin,” he said.

So far, two candidates are confirmed for the election, Galway East Independent TD Catherine Connolly, who has the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit, while Fine Gael has declared former minister Heather Humphreys its candidate.

The 71 members of Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party will decide on Tuesday between former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin and Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher.

Sinn Féin is expected to announce its intentions on September 20.

Several other potential candidates have declared an interest in seeking a nomination, and councils are due to meet in the coming weeks to decide whether to nominate candidates.

However, because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will have their own candidates and Sinn Féin has yet to announce its intentions, it seems likely that many councils will not make a nomination.

Cork City Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, September 15, before which prospective nominees get to make their case in five-minute presentations.

At least a dozen people have so far put their names forward for consideration, and Mr McCarthy has recused himself from those deliberations, citing a potential conflict of interest.

The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, September 24.