Fine Gael hopeful, Phil Leahy formally launched his bid for a Cork County Council seat in Fermoy Golf Club last Saturday night. A capacity crowd attended, among their number, Mike Ross of Irish rugby fame and Maeve Dineen, business editor with the Irish Independent.
Both guests gave ringing endorsements to 'their man' and the set piece occasion certainly helped keep the Phil Leahy bandwagon rolling along. Phil's seriousness about his mission has been evident from the start and key themes were hammered home at the launch, most notably his knowledge of farming economics and his association with Dairygold which, he believes, can become an engine for further job creation in the years ahead.
It hasn't taken long for roads to become a huge issue on the campaign trail and while careful not to over commit, Phil did observe that far too many roads were substandard and he pledged to keep the matter to the forefront of his agenda. Interspersing the key note address with colourful stories about his sporting experiences, Phil also made plain the scale of the task facing him.

NO ILLUSIONS

"Personally, I'm under no illusions about the scale of the task facing me and I'm predicting a tight contest, a contest where every single vote will be vital and a contest where nothing can be taken for granted. We've started very positively but there's an enormous challenge ahead, a challenge that will test me and everyone associated with my campaign. It's daunting but achievable," he said.
Senator Deirdre Clune also rowed in behind Phil, describing him as 'a completely grounded individual who understood the importance of creating strong communities'.
"Phil Leahy typifies all that is good about the community activist and we are extremely fortunate to have someone with his skill set available to us. It's already very clear that he intends to run a vigorous campaign and I wish him every success," Senator Clune said. Cork East Deputy Tom Barry from Killavullen also added his support to Phil's campaign.

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