There will be at least two new councillors in the Adare/Rathkeale Electoral Area after this Summer’s Local Elec-tions with the long-flagged imminent retirement of Fianna Fáil veteran Kevin Sheahan, and now the surprise weekend announcement by Independent Emmett O’Brien that he will not seek re-election on June 7th.
Mr. Sheahan has been a councillor since 1985.
Mr. O’Brien, Pallaskenry, was first elected as a poll-topping Independent in 2014 and was comfortably re-elected five years later, with over 1,500 first-preference votes.
He cites the pressures of work (barrister/farmer) as a reason for his decision, while Mr. O’Brien would also like to enjoy more personal freedom away from the intensity which is often linked to politics.
Adare/Rathkeale is a six-seater, with Mr. Sheahan, O’Brien, Bridie Collins (FF), Stephen Keary (FG), John O’Donoghue (Independent) and Adam Teskey (FG) currently in situ.
In the upcoming election, FF will run Ms. Collins, Triona O’Dea and Ger Ward, while FG will likely have Mr. Keary, Mr. Teskey and Michael Sheahan (currently a councillor in City East) on their ticket.
Sinn Féin have chosen Joanne Collins to contest the election, while there will also likely be others, one of whom is confirmed as Independent Tommy Hartigan.