WITH former Limerick Mayor and Fianna Fáil stalwart of 39 years, Cllr Kevin Sheahan, retiring after next June’s Local Elections, his party are now looking at injecting some new blood in his stead.
Last week Fianna Fáil members gathered in the Woodlands House Hotel to select candidates for the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District in the upcoming 2024 election.
Selected alongside outgoing Adare-based councillor Bridie Collins, who was first elected to Limerick City and County Council in 2019, were Trina O’Dea from Croom and Askeaton-based Gerard Ward.
Cllr Collins cites getting elected after her first campaign as one of her proudest achievements. The role of councillor, she points out, is varied with each day bringing a new challenge and learning opportunity.
“I am working hard to assist communities throughout the constituency every day as I prepare for and look forward to the 2024 elections,” Cllr Collins said.
A hard act to follow, Cllr Kevin Sheahan, who has served the people of Askeaton and beyond for the last 39 years on both Limerick County Council and now Limerick City and County Council is retiring from public service after next year’s Local Election.
Limerick’s longest serving council member, the 77-year-old Askeaton native first became involved in local politics in 1985 where was elected to the Rathkeale District of the former Limerick County Council.
The former special branch Garda was re-elected when the newly created Adare-Rathkeale area was created in 2014 and later held the title of becoming the first chairman of Limerick City and County, a title now known as the Mayor of Limerick.
Six councillors will be elected at next years local elections to serve the Adare-Rathkeale district.
Fianna Fáil hopeful Trina O’Dea, who also ran in the 2019 Local Elections, will be hoping for a less memorable canvass this time around after being bitten by a Staffordshire bull terrier in her previous campaign.
The Adare-Rathkeale candidate received a deep wound on her shin after she was bitten while canvassing in the Ballyneety area.
