‘Reluctant politician’ to be co-opted into Ted Tynan's seat on Cork County Council

Jerrica Struthers, a community activist and “reluctant politician” from Mayfield, is set to be co-opted onto Cork City Council tonight.

She will replace Worker’s Party councillor Ted Tynan, who received a standing ovation after he announced that he was to step down from the council due to his health after a political career spanning five decades.

Mr Tynan, 83, has been unwell since the start of this year. He was first elected to Cork City Council in 1979, serving one term before his return in 2009 to a seat he has retained since.

He said at the meeting: “It’s something I’m not happy about, retiring from the council, but I have no choice other than to take notice of the advice of my doctor.”

Ms Struthers has been working with Mr Tynan in the community for years, and wished him the best in his retirement.

She said: “For the rest of my life, I will always find myself asking, ‘what would Ted do?’ He is my idol and an inspiration, and he gave me back my faith in humanity when he walked into my life.

“I wish Ted and his wife Carmel plenty of happy, healthy years spent together. You’ve both sacrificed so much for the cause, you truly deserve every bit of this well-earned peace.”

Becoming a councillor “was never the plan” she had for herself, Ms Struthers said, adding that she would be more comfortable as a protest, community meeting or helping a neighbour.

“I am a reluctant politician, but I am a steadfast community activist, and that will never change.

“I’ve never been much of a talker, I’ll leave the grand speeches to the career politicians, but I am a fighter. I am a persistent, stubborn fighter for the working class, for my neighbours, and for my friends and family.

“I am accepting Ted’s and the Worker’s Party’s nomination to be co-opted onto Cork City Council, because I refuse to let the fire that Ted lit in the council go out. To continue in Ted’s footsteps is a privilege that I carry dearly.”

Mr Tynan’s persistence inspired her, she said: “He taught me that you don’t need the loudest voice in the room to be the most effective; you just need the thickest skin and the biggest heart.”

She said that she was looking forward to representing Mayfield: “The North East Ward is my home, but Mayfield… Mayfield is my soul. We’ve always been called the underdog.

“We’ve been overlooked and underfunded for too long. But being an underdog just means you know how to fight harder. It means you know the value of a hand up, not a handout.”

Ms Struthers added: “Ted left massive shoes to fill, but I am not here to walk this path alone. I am here to walk it with you.

“We are going to take the fight from the doorsteps of Mayfield straight into the council chambers.”