County mayor reveals plan to stand as Dáil candidate

The newly-elected mayor of Co Cork has declared his intention to be a candidate in the next general election, but has not decided what constituency he will contest.

John Paul O’Shea made history yesterday by becoming the first Independent in the council’s 116-year history to hold the chain of office. The 31-year-old’s power base straddles two constituencies, Cork North-West and Cork East.

The new mayor said he was committed to running for the Dáil but will not declare his preferred constituency until August.