Gearóid gets nod to run for vacant seat
A SECOND candidate has been formally nominated in the process to fill the vacant Fianna Fail set on Cork County Council’s Kanturk/Mallow municipal district committee.
While the party has yet to announce a date for the selection convention, barrister Gearóid Murphy has joined former county councillor Bart Donegan in the race to fill the seat vacated following the resignation of Daniel Fitzgerald last September.
Mr Murphy’s nomination received the backing of his own Fianna Fail cumann as well as party members from across the region.
The 28-year-old is no stranger to the world of politics, having joined Fianna Fail’s youth organisation Ógra in 2007. He is the current chair of the Con Meaney memorial cumann and the Millstreet comhairle, and has been a member of the party’s national executive since 2015.
Aware of the need for a second county councillor in Mallow, Mr Murphy last October pledged to move to the town should his bid to be co-opted onto the council be 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.
He said he was “extremely honoured” to have been nominated for possible co-option onto the committee.
“Since first putting my name forward for the role in October I have been hearted by the positive response received from grass roots party members. It is a competitive race, but I genuinely enjoy meeting the members and listening to their concerns,” said Mr Murphy.
He said he believed the experience gained during his involvement with several successful general election campaigns would stand him in good stead as a county councillor.
“Now, I feel, is the ideal time for me to take this experience, both as a party member and a barrister and put it to work for the people of the Kanturk/ Mallow area in County Hall,” said Mr Murphy.