Sinn Féin TD's wife to run for Cork City Council

Michelle Gould is prominent in local GAA circles and has served in various roles for Sinn Féin locally

Michelle Gould with Cllrs Mick Nugent and Kenneth Collins on the road for the St Vincent's Hurling, Football and Camogie Clubs annual 'Long Puc' team competition on Saturday December  30, 2023. Picture" Larry Cummins

Michelle Gould, the well-known camogie player and coach who is married to Cork North Central Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, is set to run for the party in this year’s local elections.

She will run for election to Cork City Council in the city’s North-West ward where the party already has two sitting councillors — Mick Nugent and Kenneth Collins.

It is understood the party ratified her nomination as a candidate just before Christmas but only confirmed the news on Thursday following queries from the Irish Examiner.

Originally from Knocknaheeny, Ms Gould lives in Gurranabraher with Thomas and their two daughters.

A graduate of UCC, she is a secondary school teacher in North Cork, teaching PE. Ms Gould is also a lifelong member of St Vincent’s Camogie Club and hurling and football clubs on the city's northside, where she has played, coached and managed teams and served on the executive committees.

She has been involved with Cork camogie at various levels for several years, and is currently the manager of the UCC intermediate camogie team.

She has been active in politics for years, serving in various roles for the party locally.

"I've worked closely with Cllrs Nugent and Collins through various clubs, organisations and campaigns over the years," she said. 

"I know they are hard workers and I’m excited to join them in being a voice for people across the North-West ward.

I see first-hand the impact that small changes can have on everyday lives — from traffic calming to housing maintenance repairs, people’s lives can improve with proper support from council. 

"I also see the huge talent and potential in our young people and women in our community. 

"If elected, I will work tirelessly to ensure that funding and services are provided to nurture this and allow everybody to reach their potential."

Mr Gould served as a city councillor for 11 years before his election to the Dáil in 2020. He is the party’s spokesperson on addiction, recovery and wellbeing.

Last November, Orla O'Leary, a daughter of former Sinn Féin city councillor and former lord mayor Chris O'Leary, was co-opted onto Cork City Council to replace Eolan Ryng in the city's South-West ward following his decision to step down.

In 2015, Ms O'Leary's father became the first Sinn Féin lord mayor of Cork since the early 1920s, but he lost his seat in the 2019 local election.

However, he has been selected by the party to run for election again in the local elections, in the South-East ward, alongside the party's Douglas-based activist Michelle Cowhey Shahid.

Ms O'Leary's sister, Mandy O'Leary Hegarty, is also standing for election for the party in the North-East ward, where she has been its local area rep for the last six years.