Seamus McGrath to be new County Mayor

SEAMUS McGrath is set to be the next Mayor of County Cork if a pact between Fianna Fáil and independent councillors holds.

Mayor John Paul O’Shea will finish his term on Friday, June 24, at Cork County Council’s AGM.

Cllr Seamus McGrath.

Mr McGrath will be the Fianna Fáil candidate for mayor on the election to be held that day, and should have the backing of a group of independent councillors per an agreement made two years ago. While this may not give them an outright majority, it will be a large enough block that is difficult for any other combination of parties to beat.

Skibbereen councillor, Joe Caroll, is likely to take Mr McGrath’s place as leader of Fianna Fáil in the county, while the Deputy Lord Mayor will come from the independent benches.

The election will cap off an incredible run of successes for the McGrath family. In 2014 Mr McGrath was elected with the highest number of first preference votes in the country, taking more than two quotas. Earlier this year his brother, Michael McGrath, Fianna Fáil finance spokesperson, topped the poll in one of the most competitive constituencies in the country, beating his own party leader, Micheál Martin, and Fine Gael Minister Simon Coveney. With Seamus becoming Mayor, the two brothers will continue to establish one of the most powerful dynasties in Irish politics.