Labour councillor resigns from county

Cork County Councillor James Kennedy has resigned from his role as an elected representative for the Mallow/Kanturk municipal district.

First elected to the Council in 2019, the Labour Party member previously served on Mallow Town Council between 2004 and 2014 where he served as Mayor of Mallow between 2008 and 2009.

Cllr Kennedy had campaigned for the restoration of Mallow Town Council and said the main reason he got into politics was to pursue projects for Mallow that would revitalise the town.

Mr Kennedy has worked in Mallow all of his adult life and has served as as Chair of the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District since July 2022.

In a letter sent to elected members, Cork County Council wrote: “As a result of the resignation of Councillor James Kennedy on 31 January 2024, a casual vacancy has occurred in the membership of Cork County Council.

“The procedure to be followed in respect of filling the vacancy is set out in Section 19 of the Local Government Act, 2001. Section 19(3)(a) provides for the nomination of a person to be co-opted by the same registered political party who nominated for election the member who caused the vacancy.”