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Former mayor to seek election via social media

By Sean Moriarty

Former Mayor of Killarney, Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan has made a surprise return to politics by announcing that he’s to run for the Killarney Municipal District in the local elections, set to take place on May 24.

O’Callaghan, who’s to run as an independent candidate, served two previous terms as a town councillor and was named as the town mayor in 2008. He has not worked in politics since 2013.

He operates, along with his brother Paudie, the popular Fáilte Hotel on College Street and has identified the Government’s decision to increase the VAT rate to 13.5 percent which is having an impact on hotels, restaurants, pubs and other service industries.

Car parking and traffic congestion in Killarney, especially during peak tourism months and the state of the Tralee to Killarney road are other issues he intends to fight - if elected.

The former Dr Crokes GAA team selector also hopes to put the redevelopment of Fitzgerald Stadium on the agenda.

However, his campaign will take on a modern twist and he will engage with voters via social media platforms and not through a traditional door-to-door canvas.

“I look forward to meeting as many people as I possibly can in the weeks ahead but it is not my intention to knock on doors and disturb people in their own homes in an attempt to get my message across,” he said. “I firmly believe that, in this day and age, traditional canvassing methods are seriously outdated. I intend to run a modern campaign with a heavy emphasis on social media and I will reach out to the public to convey my message through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, video and other modern day methods.”