Former pop star needs to put in performance of a lifetime

BEING a former pop star with piercing eyes and a Colgate smile is certainly no barrier to successful canvassing.

Sinead Sheppard, a former member of the pop group Six, said her reception on the doorsteps might be different if she was canvassing for Fianna Fáil.

“Being known is making it easier. I’m not getting eaten on the doorstep. People say ‘once your not with Fianna Fáil, we’re just waiting for them to call.’ I certainly wouldn’t like to be running for them. They must be having a hard time on the canvass,” Sinead said.

The 27-year-old, who operates six dance schools, is running for Fine Gael in the Cobh Town Council and Cork County Council elections.

Many believe the most famous woman to come out of Cobh since Sonia O’Sullivan is odds on to gain a seat in the town council. Making it to County Hall will be another story.

She will have to put in the performance of her life to grab one of the 48 seats on offer at County Hall.

But it’s not out of the question.

“Being a familiar face helps, even outside of Cobh. I started canvassing 11 weeks ago because, as a first-time candidate, I wanted to start early,” she said.

Sinead believes Cobh should have two county councillors representing the area to give it more clout.

John Mulvihill Snr (Labour) is the sitting county councillor and it would be a major shock if she dislodged him.

She will also have to get a lot of votes in the likes of Midleton, Carrigtwohill and Youghal if she is to succeed.

Sinead is obviously targeting the young vote and will have to get large numbers of them out on polling day, June 5.

On the canvass trail yesterday, she was getting a positive reaction from most people, although one woman, who didn’t volunteer to be named, refused point blank to vote for her.

Surprisingly her support base doesn’t just include young people. Great-grandmother Breda Kelly was delighted to chat with the candidate.

“You’ll have all our support, we’re very proud of you,” she told Sinead.

Mrs Kelly added that she had 14 children who were all going to vote for the former pop star.

Eamon Burke said he’d give Sinead a vote but added, “I also have somebody else in mind,” which seemed to suggest she’d have to rely on a transfer.

Trudy Casey said she’d also give Sinead a vote, but again didn’t specify if it would be a first preference.

“We need to get more younger people involved. There are some councillors who forget about the voters as soon as the election is over,” Ms Casey added.

“If I get into the town council I would work away for five years and then contest the next county council elections. I intend to go again,” Sinead said.