Clare councillor Joe Cooney to contest General Election for first time

Clare councillor Joe Cooney has been selected by Fine Gael to represent the party in the next General Election.

Cllr Cooney was added to the Fine Gael Clare constituency ticket following a meeting of Fine Gael’s Executive Council on Sunday night, November 3.

The former Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council and Chairman of Clare GAA is a first-time General Election candidate in the four-seat Clare constituency and joins Leonora Carey and Dr Tom Nolan on the Fine Gael ticket.

First elected to Clare Country Council in 2004, Cllr Cooney has been returned to Killaloe Municipal District (MD) as a poll topper in the four subsequent Local Elections, most recently in June 2024.

Cllr Joe Cooney on his re-election to Clare County Council in June 2024 | PIC: Ellen Gough

Speaking about his decision to run, Cllr Cooney said, “Having considered contesting the General Election in recent weeks and on foot of representations from people across the county and following discussions with Taoiseach Simon Harris urging me to put my name forward, I have decided that now is the right time for me to do so.

“Ahead of making a decision to put my name forward, I have consulted at length with family, friends and supporters to ensure I was in a position to give 100pc to my campaign and my tenure as a TD should I be elected.

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“As a longstanding member of Clare County Council and proud Clare man, I am honoured to contest this election and to receive the opportunity to potentially represent my county in Dáil Éireann. If I say I will do something, I will do it. I am deeply committed to our communities, and my dedication to serving the people of Clare is central to everything I do.”

CllrCooney has been a member of Clare County Council serving the Killaloe Municipal District (MD) since 2004. He was the first serving Cathaoirleach of Killaloe MD in 2010 following its renaming from Scariff Electoral Area and is the current Cathaoirleach of the MD. 

He has cited investment in housing, health services, rural communities, infrastructure, tourism and Shannon Airport as key issues for him should he be elected.

On the issue of health, Cllr Cooney said he fully supports "the restoration of Ennis A&E which is needed to cater for County Clare’s growing population and health needs, while increasing capacity in our community hospitals is required to alleviate ongoing overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick".

He has promised to be "a strong advocate for agriculture and rural communities in Dáil Éireann".

"As someone who has lived in rural Clare all my life, I will seek increased investment in vital community, transport and environmental infrastructure.”

In terms of his support for the local tourism sector, Cllr Cooney stated, “the existing accommodation shortage is unsustainable for the tourism and hospitality sector and must be redressed along with the requirement to retain existing supports and introduce new measures that reduce the operating costs for operators", and said he would work with government to "ensure our National Aviation Policy positions and supports Shannon Airport as a key strategic asset for balanced regional development in the West of Ireland.”

“Strong communities are built on collaboration, trust, hard work and the understanding that every citizen’s voice must be heard and supported. If elected, I pledge to always listen, engage, and act on everyone’s behalf as I have done throughout my 21-year political career,” Cllr Cooney said.

Elected Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council in 2023, Cllr Cooney is currently Chair of O’Callaghan’s Mills GAA Club and has served as Vice Chair (2010-2016) and Chair (2016-2020) of Clare GAA.

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