FF man loses seat on board
Having lost his Fianna Fáil county council seat in Bantry in the June local elections, he failed to secure a ministerial appointment to Bantry Bay Harbour Board.
Hotelier Mr O’Callaghan, the outgoing chairman, could not be contacted yesterday. Friends said he was aggrieved at being overlooked, as a nominee, of the marine minister.
The new 11-member board sits tomorrow night and among the ministerial nominees is Taoiseach Mr Ahern’s first cousin, Kathleen Tessyman, who lives in Bantry. Mother-of-four Mrs Tessyman, a member of Fianna Fáil, was unsuccessful in contesting the town council elections earlier this year.
Another notable absentee is ex-Cork South West Cork TD Paddy Sheehan, also on the board since the 1970s. Fine Gael county council colleague John O’Shea replaces him.
The other two ministerial nominees on the board are Bantry Fianna Fáil town councillor Letty Baker and SIPTU representative Tim Minehane.
Ms Tessyman said yesterday she was looking forward to serving on the harbour board.
“All my life, I and my family had an interest in the goings-on in Bantry Bay and I’m looking forward to having an input in the decision-making process,” she said.
