Having spent close to thirty years working in and for the city, Cllr Counihan has looked on as Cork has blossomed into the cosmopolitan city it is today and continues to influence how it is shaped.

Born and reared in Ballinlough, Cllr Counihan always had a keen interest in the city, how it grew with him and what could influence how it was moulded. Knowing from a young age that politics would play a significant part in his life, after he completed his education at the CBS on Sullivan’s Quay, he joined the local Fianna Fáil branch as an activist.

While working within local politics, Cllr Counihan took up a position within local government where over the years he held a number of roles which included positions at county hall, in Macroom and later in Ennis. After spending close to fifteen years working within local government, Donal went on to work within the universities where he spent close to 25 years working in areas including adult education.

His full transition into the political world came at a time when the then activist was recommended to stand as a local candidate and successfully secured a seat in the city chamber. Cllr Counihan said that the experience he had gained working at local government was hugely beneficial to him in his new role representing the people of Cork city, as having worked within the system all his life, he knew its limitations all too well and was in the unique position that allowed him understand what was reasonable to look for and what could be achieved.

Over the years, Cllr Counihan used this knowledge to secure the needs of his constituents, to help set out what the city needed as well as what it does not need and to influence the modern shape of Cork, a testing role which has been rewarded today with his elevation to Lord Mayor of Cork.