Cork councillor content with decision to leave Fianna Fáil and run as an Independent candidate

Cllr William O’Leary who was first elected to Cork County Council as a Fianna Fáil party member in 2019 has reaffirmed his contentment with his decision to run as an Independent candidate in the upcoming elections.

Cllr O’Leary who represents the Fermoy Municipal District admitted that his disgruntlement with Fianna Fáil led to him making the decision with a ‘heavy’ heart but with a clear conscience.

Posting on social media on March 25 Cllr O’Leary said: “I cannot in good conscience put myself forward as a Fianna Fáil candidate when I know my heart and soul wouldn’t be in it. I have been disgruntled with Fianna Fail for some time. I feel the decision I have come to is the right one. Whether you agree with me or not I would hope that people would see that I put honesty above all else.”

Speaking in the run up to the local elections on Friday, June 7, Cllr O’Leary stands by his decision to leave Fianna Fáil. “I am happy with my decision. You live by the sword and you die by the sword. I just felt it was the right decision. The election will tell if it has worked out or not. I would love to be re-elected on to Cork County Council for another five years. If it doesn’t work out, so be it. That is the way life is. I am young enough to get on with life and move on,” he said.

Cllr O’Leary was one of three Fianna Fáil councillors that were elected on the first count back in 2019.

The Rathcormac man was elected alongside sitting councillors Frank O’Flynn and Deirdre O’Brien.

The councillor admitted he wasn’t approached by anyone involved with Fianna Fáil asking him to reconsider his decision to leave the party. “No I was never approached by anyone in Fianna Fáil asking me to reconsider my decision. I was neither surprised or disappointed. Politics unfortunately is every man for himself. Did a few of them expect it? Quiet possibly. I think anyone who really knows me knew that my head was at a point where I wouldn’t have been turned to be honest.”

So how did Cllr O’Leary end up choosing to run as an Independent after leaving the Fianna Fáil party? “I have always done my best for people. I would love to continue serving the people of Fermoy MD but at the end of the day the people will have their own say. A lot of people would know the way I think and know the way I am. They are saying it is a good thing for me personally. It would probably be more suitable to my character to be an Independent at this stage. The way the Irish political system is when people leave a party, there is usually an air of suspicion as well.”

Cllr O’Leary said he never considered joining the recently formed Independent Ireland Party who are running a plethora of candidates in the local and European elections. “No I would never consider joining the Irish Independent Party. I wish them well. There are some formidable politicians in their party. It is another alternative for people. I admire what they have done. For me I just need to be as Independent as I can be.”

Recent opinion polls indicate a steady increase in support for Independent politicians.

Cllr O’Leary said they are ‘resonating’ with the public because they are applying common sense and listening to their concerns. “I think Independents are resonating with people because I think the mainstream parties have completely failed to listen to people on the ground. Politicians need to know the mood in their community and as a government react to that. From agriculture to immigration to services, there has just been a drive on approach from the mainstream parties that has failed to listen to people on the common ground. Common sense has been lost. Maybe Independent people show that level of common sense a bit more at the moment.”

The countdown to the upcoming local and European elections is well and truly underway with candidates across all parties and none engaging in plenty of canvassing across Cork County.

Cllr O’Leary said he is encountering a variety of issues on the doorsteps. “I am flat out canvassing. I think every candidate gets a mixed response in their own way. Some of them would be for you and some won’t. The main issues coming up on the doorsteps are access to services. This is a huge one in terms of visiting a doctor or dentist. They are overstretched. Childcare is coming up a lot and in particular the pressure that is coming on childcare providers in terms of retaining staff and trying to keep their business viable.

“Housing of course is a huge issue. I am meeting a lot of people who are above the threshold for a social house, but are still finding it difficult to get a decent mortgage. They are caught in between. Roads and footpaths are coming up a lot. Roads is a big issue because of the poor weather since Christmas really. There has been a lot of damage done to the road network,” he added.

Other issues the councillor said he is encountering in his constituency range from immigration to the cost of living crisis. “Immigration is also coming up a lot on the doorsteps. There are various views on it and I respect all of them. People are asking questions around it. The cost of living is another issue. The issue of fuel is coming up a lot with commuters and people who are involved in agriculture and haulage. Business owners are concerned about keeping their business going and increasing the levels of footfalls.”

The 33-year-old councillor has enjoyed his five year term serving in Cork County Council and is hoping to carry on working for the Fermoy MD. “It has definitely been an experience being a councillor. It doesn’t matter what job you do, whether you are in politics or not you are going to have good and bad days in every job. My aim is to get back into the council and carry on the work I have been doing over the last five years.”

Cllr O’Leary doubles up in his role as a public representative by working for his father. He paid tribute to his father for his flexibility which has allowed William to pursue his role in the community. “I work for my father and we have trucks on the road. It can be hard working as a councillor and having another job as well. I suppose the haulage industry can be seasonal and you can be under the cosh more at certain times. I am lucky my father is understanding and flexible which allows me to do my political work.”

“Politics can be hard,” admitted Cllr O’Leary who has received abuse during his tenure in the local authority. “Since Covid there is definitely more scrutiny towards politicians on all sides of the fence. Going back 30 years if you wanted to contact your local public representative you turned up to their clinic and that was one of the few opportunities you had to meet them. These days at the click of a button people have access which is only right. I agree with that. We should be accessible and easy to contact. At times it can turn nasty.

“Over the course of the five years I have gotten abuse. Once you know what you are getting into and know what the job is about that is part and parcel of it. You just have to get on with it. It is a tough business. Unfortunately the way the world has gone you just have to accept that is now part of the job. You have to try and cope with it the best way you can,” he added.

Cllr O’Leary’s immediate focus in on getting re-elected to Cork County Council.

He has given no thought to running as an Independent candidate in the next Irish general election. “Not on my mind at all. I am just concentrating on Cork County Council. I am not even thinking of tomorrow yet.”

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