Sheahan to leave county council

The decision by a former Mayor of County Cork not to contest next summer’s local elections is the latest in a line of shock resignations to hit County Hall.

Following the resignations of Labour stalwarts John Mulvihill and Paula Desmond — plus the decision of FF whip Danny Crowley not to stand — comes the departure of FG’s Cllr Tom Sheahan.

The Buttevant-based auctioneer, who served as mayor of the county in 2007/2008, said his decision to quit local politics was primarily based on the redrawing of electoral area boundaries.

The life-time member of FG first stood unsuccessfully for the council in 1979 and was also unsuccessful in two attempts in 1981/2 to get a Dáil seat in the Cork East constituency.

The 67-year-old father-of-five was eventually elected to the county council in 1999, along with Paul Bradford who is now a senator.

He said he would still remain a community activist because a lot of things need to be done in Buttevant.

In particular he said locals would continue their fight to get improvements to the shocking state of their main street.