Cork councillor Marcia D'Alton will not be running in June's local elections

The independent councillor for the Carrigaline Municipal District says her name won't be on the ballot paper in a post on social media on Wednesday morning.

Cllr Marcia D'Alton said there was still lots to do in the two months before the public goes to the polls. File picture: David Keane.

Cork county councillor Marcia D'Alton has announced she will not be running in June's local elections.

The independent councillor for the Carrigaline Municipal District confirmed on Wednesday that her name will not be on the ballot paper this summer.

Ms D'Alton said that she has decided to take a "pause" while the cost of living crisis has also played a part in her decision. 

"I don't not want to run again but my gut screams loud that it's time to take a pause," she said in a post on Facebook.  

"I've given this job all I have and more and my body needs sleep. Although financially we've managed miraculously to date, cost of living has increased so violently that I have to help take the pressure off Rob.

"There are other reasons too that perhaps I'll have the courage to discuss in posts to come."

Marcia D'Alton

Ms Dalton said that what she has been trying to achieve is "by no means finished", adding that she has no idea what her next step will be.

However, she noted that there was still lots to do in the two months before the public goes to the polls.

She said being a representative to Cork County Council and a member of Passage West Town Council "has been the most extraordinary honour".

"There'd be days at the computer when I would mentally stand back, look at the array of topics coming across my desk and literally gasp. 

On top of what would generally be expected of a councillor, I've painted buildings, planted bulbs, swept streets, created businesses, written countless submissions, innumerable funding applications, designed signage, stayed up nights for oral hearings, helped run festivals. With the right attitude, the creativity of this job is awesome!

Ms Dalton said that she had seen "deep and meaningful insights" into people's lives, something she said was a privilege. 

She concluded: "I am BEYOND thankful for your friendship, your smiles in the street, your waves when passing in the car, unplanned conversations in unexpected places, your words of encouragement and most of all, your confidence in me. You have buoyed me up when the going was rough and danced with me when the energy was high. 

"That's the essence of community. I am so grateful — thank you."