PICTURES: Retiring Limerick councillor hailed a ‘major force’ in politics

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RETIRING councillor Kevin Sheahan has been described as a “beast” in local politics and a “legend” of Fianna Fail.

Limerick’s longest-serving councillor will step down from the local authority at the election in June.

In honour of his 39 years in politics, a civic reception was held in the Askeaton man’s honour.

The Woodlands House Hotel, Adare played host to the event, the first time a local politician has been honoured in this manner.

Council chief executive Dr Pat Daly said: “He is what they might say in the British press is a ‘beast’ of politics. I mean that in the most powerful sense of the word, because Kevin was a big player not alone in council, but in Limerick and Limerick politics. He always brought a passion, an articulate argument to bear on everything he was involved in.”

Cllr Sheahan was first elected in 1985, and was returned in 1991, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019.

It followed a long career as a garda serving across the country.

His constituency colleague, Cllr Adam Teskey, who hosted the civic reception said: “There are very few people elected to public office who can say they have provided protection to the founding member of their own party, Eamon de Valera. He was deeply rooted in Fianna Fail from a young age.”

The Cathaoirleach of the old County Council twice, Cllr Sheahan became mayor of the new merged authority in 2014.

Cllr Teskey - who described his colleague as his “political mentor from the word go” - said: “It was the right pair of hands, and a safe pair of hands to have on that occasion. To bring the county and city together took a lot of courage and conviction, and needed a person with knowledge and experience. And who better than Kevin Sheahan?”

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Dr Daly added: “His motto is People First. And from the executive side of the house, that is correct. Everything he asked, everything he did, everything he argued for, was for people, for Askeaton, and for the area of Limerick and Ireland. We are losing a major force and a major player in the local political architecture.”

Minister of State and senior Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins hailed Cllr Sheahan as “a legend in Fianna Fail.”

“Anyone who can serve 40 years and retain his seat in seven elections which are very competitive, I think it’s a real testament to how Kevin has applied himself in his own community, how he was valued in his own community and how the community responded to Kevin,” Mr Collins said.

He cited the delivery of the Askeaton swimming pool as an example of this.

Dr Daly also pointed to Cllr Sheahan’s role in bringing a credit union to Askeaton.

Cllr Sheahan’s last day in politics is June 6 - the anniversary of his election as council chair, and his wedding to Caroline.