O’Keeffe to fight for Seanad seat

Councillor William O'Leary and outgoing TD Kevin O'Keeffe.

Kevin O’Keeffe has said he was ‘shocked’ not to retain his seat in what he termed ‘a Sinn Fein tsunami’ but he vowed to continue and says he will be gearing up for a Seanad run.

Deputy O’Keeffe said that there was a number of reasons for his fall at the polls but that he is still committed to his political career and hopes to make sure he gets a voice for North Cork in the Oireachtas. 

He was tied out in the East Cork vote with his running mate James O’Connor, leap frogging him into the Dail as the eight count battle closed. Kevin said that ‘all is not lost’.

“First of all I want to congratulate the candidates who were elected to the Dail. Obviously I was in a bit of shock with my result. I am aware that there was a Sinn Fein tsunami that hit Fianna Fail and the other big parties, but I think maybe there was a bit of complacency there ….”

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