The West Cork Fianna Fáil Councillor, Patrick Gerard Murphy is the new Mayor of Cork County.
He was elected unopposed today and he succeeds Independent Declan Hurley, another West Cork native.
Mayor Murphy was nominated by FF Cllr Seamus McGrath and seconded by FG Cllr Kevin Murphy.
Patrick Gerard Murphy was born in the Beara Peninsula and now resides in Ballylickey Bantry. With a degree in production engineering from the University of Limerick and a Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship, Mayor Murphy spent time with the Ford Motor Company in Wales before deciding to enter the disability sector.
Mayor Murphy has been in a wheelchair since a car crash in 1993.
Mayor Murphy has worked with the Centre for Independent Living in Limerick and the National Learning Network in Bantry West Cork, who deliver certified training programmes for people with disabilities.
A Fianna Fáil councillor with Cork County Council since 2008, Mayor Murphy has served as chair of the Western Committee, chair of the West Cork Municipal District and has been a member of the council’s Strategic Planning committees for housing, roads and transport, tourism and economic development and coastal management.
Speaking to RTÉ news he said his priority was the change in the boundaries between the county and the city areas in Cork. Under the new plan the city will be extended out and will take in part of what is now Cork County.
He said there was not enough negotiation and the transition must be handled well, so as to ensure services do not suffer.
He said he was concerned Cork County will lose revenue from the collection of taxes and rates.
