Gearóid Murphy (Fianna Fáil- Mallow)

Name: Gearóid Murphy

Age: 30

Preferred pronouns: He/Him/His

Party: Fianna Fáil

Local Electoral Area: Mallow

Is this your first time running? Yes

What are your reasons for running as a young person in politics?

It might be a cliché, but I am running to make a difference in my community. I would love to make my local area a more attractive place to live for everyone, and particularly for the youth. In my part of rural north Cork, so many young people move to the cities for college or work after they finish school, often never to return. Even if they do want to come back, they often can’t because of the lack of jobs or services. This can become a vicious cycle, leading to an ageing population and even fewer opportunities for younger people in rural areas. 

Projects like the Cork-Limerick motorway can make a real, tangible difference to this issue. Linking Mallow to these two cities, as well as the Ports of Cork and Shannon-Foynes, and the airports in Cork and Shannon, would be a game-changer for attracting business and investment into the town and would benefit the whole region. Councillors have an important role to play in drawing attention to these projects, and in fighting for resources and infrastructure for their local areas.