Fianna Fáil set to take control of Cork County Council after winning more seats than Fine Gael rivals

Fianna Fáil, as largest party, is expected to seek three of the five mayorships on the council

There will be 16 new councillors attending the local authority’s annual general meeting on Friday, June 21, at which it will be decided who will be elected mayor. Picture: Denis Minihane

Fianna Fáil will take control of Cork County Council for the next five years if as expected, the party successfully cobbles together a coalition of Independents and Labour to produce a majority voting pact on the local authority.

Fianna Fáil pipped Fine Gael for the most seats on the council when, at the eleventh hour, in a recount in the Cobh Municipal District, one of its candidates got across the line giving it 19 seats — one more than its rivals.