O’ Keefe: ‘People have softened towards Fianna Fáil since 2011’

A Fianna Fáil councillor readily admits people will still slam the door in his face when he’s canvassing. But he maintains it’s not as prevalent as it was three years ago — when he tried to retain his father’s former Dáil seat.

“I fought the general election in 2011 when there was fierce negativity against Fianna Fáil. They’d close the door in my face and say there’s no way they’d vote for us. But people have softened since,” said Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe.

In 2011, he was trying to win a seat in the Cork East constituency following the retirement of his outspoken father, Ned.