Race for extra seat set to be a two-man battle

HISTORIAN Kieran McCarthy could be shaping Cork city’s future if he is, as predicted, in the final shake-up for the extra new seat in the city’s largest ward.

Following boundary changes, the sprawling former six-seater, with an electorate of 19,210 spread from inner city areas near City Hall out to suburban estates in Ballinlough and Mahon, has been given an extra seat to reflect population growth.

With seven seats up for grabs, all six sitting councillors should, barring disaster, retain their seats. Despite the expected backlash against Fianna Fáil, Donal Counihan’s and Terry Shannon’s long-service record should stand them.