Minister of state Seán Sherlock has insisted he never stood in the way of a now former Labour Party county councillor becoming his running mate on the general election ticket.

Fine Gael are close to poaching a leading Cork councillor who yesterday resigned from the Labour party in frustration at being prevented from running in the general election. Fermoy-based Cllr Noel McCarthy last night told the Irish Examiner he was considering his options after leaving Labour.

Sinn Féin has been thrown into even more turmoil in the Cork East constituency following the resignation of one of its county councillors.

Cork county councillors have been warned to steer clear of chamber discussions on some windfarm developments.

Minister of State Sean Sherlock has hit back at one of his Labour Party colleagues who claimed a promised new school wouldn’t be built in the timeframe suggested by the senior politician.

It’s being joked that Labour councillors are such an endangered species in Cork that the two remaining should be given sanctuary at Fota Wildlife Park.

DERELICT buildings and ill-kempt facades are an unfortunate feature of the Cork City visual experience.

ONE thing is guaranteed in what has been dubbed Cork’s “ward of death” – a sitting councillor will lose his seat.

LOCAL authority tenants who got new Government-funded gas heating systems are freezing in their homes because they cannot afford to pay a €400 Bórd Gáis security deposit.

HUNDREDS of people from all walks of life turned up to pay their last respects yesterday to a man who was the longest serving newspaper editor in the country.

KIERAN McCARTHY (Letters, June 4), apart from invoking the Good Friday Agreement, avoids my substantive points regarding unionists’ right to self-determination.

Independent candidate Dave McCarthy is talking up his chances in the run-up to polling day.

CLLR Kieran McCarthy (Letters, May16) accuses me of having a ‘them and us’ attitude towards unionists.

NEWLY declared election candidate Dave McCarthy has ripped up his Fianna Fáil membership card and, in doing so, the form guide for the Cork North Central constituency.

SINN Féin Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Irish Examiner letters, April 14) dismisses my proposal (Letters, April 11) that his party should take up their seats at Westminster.

SINN FÉIN Cllr Kieran McCarthy is indignant (Irish Examiner letters, December 3) that his association with that party is being given particular significance in regard to the recent Corrib gasline protests in Co Mayo.

THERE was an angry reaction from councillors yesterday to a Health Executive Services’ letter ruling out an ambulance for Cobh.