FG politician to put family before party

ONE of Fine Gael’s youngest politicians is unlikely to contest the next local elections in Co Cork.

Councillor Liam O’Doherty confirmed yesterday he was finding it hard to balance his many commitments — which include being a father of a young family and a dairy farmer.

The 37-year-old married father of three children, who range in age from four to 10, said he would use the summer to reflect on his role as a public representative. However, he admitted it was unlikely he would seek re-election next June.

“I want to assure my constituents that I will continue to do my council work up until then. I enjoy the county council work, but it is a full-time job. So, too, is trying to run a dairy farm and bring up a young family,” said Mr O’Doherty.

The Mitchelstown-based councillor said, if he was to step down, he will not rule out returning to public life in later years when his family has grown up.

Mr O’Doherty is a very popular member of the council and admired by members of all parties.

He was elected a councillor for the Fermoy electoral area four years ago and is best known for the fight he took against proposals to locate a €75 million anaerobic waste digester in Kilworth.

The site chosen for the project had previously been used as an illegal dump. Locals fought against that dump, winning a closure order in the European Court.

Meanwhile, another FG councillor may be about to change constituencies. Kanturk-based councillor Pat Buckley said, following the redrawing of electoral areas, he was considering moving to Mallow. Kanturk has lost a council seat as a result of the electoral redraw.

Mr Buckley dispelled rumours he may not run in the 2009 local elections. “I have lost a fairly substantial chunk of my area into Mallow, such as Kincora, Nadd, Lyre, Roskeen and Gortmore. That’s about 1,250 votes in total and I was getting about 65% of those.”