RACE TO FILL FITZGERALD SEAT HOTTING UP
FF CONVENTION SET FOR EARLY NOVEMBER
THE first two candidates have emerged in the race to take up the vacant Fianna Fáil seat on Cork County Council’s Kanturk/Mallow district following the recent resignation of Daniel Fitzgerald.
As predicted by The Corkman twoweeks ago former county councillor Bart Donegan has thrown his hat in the ring for the seat as has Kanturk based solicitor Gearóid Murphy.
Mr Donegan was originally co-opted on to the then Kanturk electoral area in 2012 following the death of his father Michael. However, he lost his seat in the 2014 local elections after local government reforms realigned the constituency.
The Milford native told the Corkman that this put him at a huge disadvantage.
“I lost basically half of my traditional voting area. Despite this I still polled 70% of the first preferences in the area that was left to me,” he pointed out.
In a letter sent to party delegates confirming his intention to seek the vacant seat Mr Donegan said he had “vast” political experience, with the Donegan family having served at both local and national level for more than 70-years.
“I have been a member of the Milford cumann since the age of 14 and secretary for the past 17-years. I am also treasurer of the Eamon de Valera Comhairle Ceantair,” wrote Mr Donegan.
He said he still maintains and active interest in local politics, working with other party colleagues on a range of issues.
“If successful, I will work full-time for the people of the Kanturk/Mallow area, hold regular clinics and plan with councillors and TD’s for the good of the district,” he wrote.
Mr Murphy is also no stranger to the world of politics, having joined Fianna Fáil at nine years ago while still in college. The 28-year-old serves on the party’s national executive and is chair of the Con Meaney Memorial Cumann covering Dromtariffe and Kilcorney.
Aware of the need for a county councillor in Mallow, Mr Murphy has pledged to move to the town his bid to be co-opted onto the council is successful.
“I would, of course, serve the entire electoral area. However, I would particularly focus on establishing myself as a local representative in Mallow and on the issues affecting the town and surrounding areas,” Mr Murphy told The Corkman.
“I feel it is important that Mallow is not left under-represented until the next election as so many services and amenities provided there are vital not only to the town, but also to communities throughout the northern part of the county,” he added.
Mr Murphy said he felt strong Fianna Fáil representation on the council was vital to the future of the party in the area.
“If Fianna Fáil is serious about increasing or even maintaining our standing in local government at the next election, then we need a Mallow-based councillor,” he said.
Mr Murphy maintained that if selected he could run a “strong campaign” as an established Mallow candidate in the 2019 local elections.
“It will take a lot of hard work, but the role of county councillor is one which I greatly desire to fill and I would work passionately and tirelessly for the people of Mallow and Duhallow if co-opted,” he pledged.
It is understood that party delegates will convene in early November to select who should take up the vacant seat.
Cllr Bernard Moynihan said it was important that this process was not allowed to drag on.
“We are short in numbers at both distract and full council levels, so it is important that we select Daniel’s replacement as soon as possible,” said Cllr Moynihan.