FORMER Councillor Joe Pond from Annacotty has been selected as Fianna Fáil nominee for the Limerick City East seat vacated by the untimely death of Councillor Jerry O’Dea last June.
It’s the second time he has been selected for co-option on to the council having replaced Castleconnell councillor Shane Clifford when he resigned from the local authority in 2016.
His nomination was ratified at a convention chaired by Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe at the Aisling Annacotty clubhouse and he is expected to be formally co-opted at next month’s meeting of Limerick City and County Council.
Following his ratification, Mr Pond said, “I am obviously delighted that the Fianna Fáil membership have bestowed their confidence in me and selected me to replace the late Jerry O’Dea to represent the people of Limerick City East.
“The circumstances of the co-option on to the Council are very unfortunate and I want to again pay tribute to the late Councillor Jerry O’Dea, who was a very popular Fianna Fáil Councillor and dedicated public representative. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam dílis.”
Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea TD said he was delighted that former Councillor Joe Pond had been chosen as nominee for the seat vacated as a result of the untimely and tragic death of the popular Councillor and publican Jerry O’Dea.
“Joe was extremely unlucky not to hold his seat at the last local elections having polled over 830 first preference votes in the Limerick City East area.
“He was a hard working councillor, particularly for the Castleconnell, Annacotty, Castletroy and Monaleen areas and it was a testimony of his character that he continued to work on behalf of people in these areas even after he lost his Council seat in 2019,” Deputy O’Dea added.
