O'Leary ‘disappointed’ with losing his seat

One of the major shocks during the results was Chris O’Leary, a long time councillor and former lord mayor, losing his seat. 

Why exactly is anyone’s guess, from the decline in Sinn Féin’s popularity to the competitive electoral ward, South-East, where he was contesting.

He told the Cork Independent that he was “of course disappointed” having been a local councillor for 17 years.

He added: “I’m really gutted for my supporters and my family.

“Having the honour to represent people was always a privilege for me for more than 17 years. I’ve never taken it for granted.

“It’s like a job, I’ve got my P45!” joked the former lord mayor.

Responding to Sinn Féin’s decrease in popularity, he said: “I think there’s a move, if you look at the trends in my opinion, where the Greens have made gains but they haven’t made substantial gains.

“If we look at who the big winners here are, it’s actually the right-wing as we call them, or the more conservative parties.”

He continued: “They’ve been spinning it that austerity is finished, so in most people’s eyes, why would they vote for someone who is talking about austerity?”

He said there was a number of factors at play as to why he wasn’t re-elected including the boundary changes on the south side.

This saw the new South-East local electoral area (LEA) lose a seat with Chris being of the opinion, that if it hadn't, he would have taken the seventh seat in this six-seater division.

“But that’s the way politics goes,” he added.

Another blow for the Sinn Féin party in Cork city was elimination of northside councillor Mick Nugent.

Chris said he was really gutted for him given the amount of work and commitment he gave over his years as councillor.