Chairman of Limerick soccer club to take Conor Sheehan's council seat

THE CHAIRMAN of Geraldines soccer club is to take new Dail deputy Conor Sheehan’s council seat.

Padraigh Reale, 33, will be formally co-opted onto Limerick City and County Council at a special meeting this Thursday.

He will sit as a Labour councillor in City North, taking the place of Mr Sheehan, who takes his place in Dail Eireann the day before.

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Since the abolition of the dual mandate in 2001, no politician can serve at more than one level of government.

Following his dramatic election, Mr Sheehan approached Mr Reale, who lives in Garryowen, to ask him if he would be interested in serving on the local authority.

“I was surprised initially when Conor approached me. But considering everything I do, it comes as a great honour to be considered,” Mr Reale said.

“It will be a proud moment for me and my family, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue the great work Conor has done and seeing what we can do for City North with myself as the local councillor,” he told Limerick Live.

As well as leading Geraldines - where he brought through a successful application for a sports capital grant - Mr Reale also serves on the board of management of St John the Baptist Boys National School.

He works for Limerick Sports Partnership.

“I’ve always had an interest in local politics. Myself and Conor would be good friends, and we would have good progressive conversations around politics, and local politics particularly. The goal for me is to come in and continue the good work Conor has done,” Mr Reale concluded.

He will join sitting Labour councillors Joe Leddin and Elena Secas on the local authority.

Mr Sheehan said his new colleague “encapsulates” the Labour values of “equality, solidarity and fairness” and is positive he will make a strong impact.