The Mayor of County Cork has quit Fianna Fáil after more than 30 years and has criticised Micheál Martin “for not giving the party effective leadership” and wanting “to be surrounded by yes men in the parliamentary party”.

The outgoing mayor of Co Cork is preparing to leave the Fianna Fáil party and run as an independent candidate in the next general election.

Two Sinn Féin councillors who want to contest next year’s general election in Cork South Central will have to go head-to-head again after a selection convention ended in a draw.

If she’d felt buoyed by the International Monitory Fund’s endorsement for her to lead the Labour Party, Joan Burton was brought back to earth last night by the grassroots concern about the party’s future.

No candidate has reached the quota in the Cork South West constituency. Six candidates have been eliminated - candidates Butler, Doonan, Kearney, McCaughey, McInenerty and Michael O'Sullivan.

A “CONTRITE” Fianna Fáil TD who received a one-year driving ban yesterday for drink driving said he wants to get back to work for his constituents.

Fine Gael have upset Fianna Fáil by claiming two seats in the Cork South West constituency on the final count.