Cllr Mary Linehan-Foley - Independent, East Cork

l part of countless community organisations.; Chairperson of Youghal Twinning association ; a member of the East Cork Garda Youth Diversion Project and former Chairperson of Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group. She also holds the accolade of being elected as Mayor of Youghal on three occasions - the first woman ever to hold the post. Mary held the position as Mayor of Cork County from June 2020 to June 2021 making her only the third woman to hold this position in Cork County . She is also a member of the Housing SPC , the Coastal Management SPC and Tourism SPC which are Committees within the council and also serves as a member of the HSE Forum since her election to the Cork County Council & East Cork Municipal District. Within Cork County Council Mary also serves on both the Southern Committee and Development committee …

Married with five children and 5 grandchildren, Mary & her husband John live on Youghal's Kilcoran Road. Having grown up and received her education in the area, her love for East Cork knows no bounds. She has worked tirelessly over the past 23 years for her constituents across the region and believes that being an Independent candidate affords her a much louder and stronger voice, due to her lack of political allegiances. In short, her voice is the people's voice.

'Over the past number of years, as an Independent Councillor, I have been progressive on all of the issues that have been brought to me by my constituents. I believe that the freedom of being an Independent has been of major benefit to my constituents as I have the ability to work tirelessly with all members of the council or, if elected, the government - regardless of their affiliations,' she notes. Starting her working life in the family business - Moby Dick's Bar in Youghal - Mary & John raised their five children () with an ethos that continues to today: work hard, respect others and always take a stand for those whose voices aren't heard. But while her role as a public representative leaves little time for herself, Mary can - on occasion - be found walking on the beaches of Youghal (where she's often stopped by constituents raising concerns) or spending time with her family.

'I think when you put yourself forward for a role in politics, you have to be able to stand by what you stand for at all times,' Mary states. 'As someone who believes firmly in the role of community in society, I will stand for what you stand for - and I'll stand by you too.