County Cork Lord Mayor Derry Canty - Cork Independent News

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County Cork Lord Mayor Derry Canty

Written by Graham Lynch

Thursday, 25 June 2009

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County Cork Lord Mayor Derry Canty
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When Derry Canty, the newly elected Mayor of County Cork, told the Cork Independent this week, with no little amount of exuberance, that "County Hall's doors will be open to anyone and everyone who wants to sit down and discuss something", even this jaded scribe found it difficult to look upon his promises to the electorate with any hint of scepticism.

The popular Fine Gael councillor is, after all, the very definition of an ideal local representative, a fact born out by an election record that reads four successes from four campaigns, stretching back to 1991, when Canty first contested on the Progressive Democrat ticket.

The decision to appoint the affable Ballincollig resident to the role of Mayor of County Cork this week was a widely popular one, with Cllr Canty defeating Fianna Fail nominee Cllr Alan Coleman by 26 votes to 11, having received the backing of all 21 members of Fine Gael as well as five independents.

The respect within which he holds the role of Lord Mayor is blatantly obvious and his pride in assuming the position clear for all to see. "It's a real privilege to serve the people of County Cork, the largest in this country. It's also very humbling, as I've put my name in for consideration before and have been through the process and negotiations. When my name was called out at the County Council meeting last week I was thrilled and honoured."

Canty was a reluctant political participant when he first ran for local office in 1991. Born and raised in the Lough, Canty moved to Ballincollig where he raised a family and built up a painting and decorating business. He became involved in the community through the local GAA, where he eventually became Vice President. It was then that he was first approached by the Progressive Democrats with a view to standing for election. "Politics was taboo for me at the time. I had three children and was building up a business so I was very busy at the time. But I was eventually coerced into it, and even managed to take a seat."

It was a baptism of fire for the fledging councillor as he faced up to the mounting demands of a rapidly growing community. "I was a raw-boy, and I was coming in on top of Batt O'Keefe's home turf. I had to hit the ground running because there really wasn't the room for a gentle learning curve. There was a lot of resident associations in the community, and a lot of work required on roads and estates because the town was expanding so quickly. I have still have seven or eight scrap books at home from my first of things that needed to be done".

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