The city welcomes Blarney and Tower

Blarney and Tower can add another major event in their long and celebrated histories.

This time it was 31 May, the day the two areas became part of Cork city.

They joined other major towns and villages like Ballincollig, Glanmire, Douglas, Frankfield, Grange and White's Cross, which also become part of what is now known as the ‘new city’.

Blarney and Tower also voted for the first time in the city in the recent local elections, specifically in the newly established Cork City North West Local Electorate Area (LEA). The vote took place a week before the official boundary extension.

However, given how much of the former county came into this LEA, five sitting city councillors were re-elected in the six seater LEA.

These councillors were Tony Fitzgerald and John Sheehan from the Fianna Fáil party. Cllr Sheehan was also elected as the Lord Mayor of Cork for this historic new five year term in local politics.

Sinn Féin also took two seats in this LEA with Thomas Gould and Kenneth Collins earning enough votes to be re-elected. Solidarity’s Fiona Ryan was also re-elected after she was co-opted to take Deputy Mick Barry’s seat in 2016.

The sixth person to take a seat was Blarney based Damian Boylan of Fine Gael.