*PICTURED: Cillian Murphy and (inset) Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney
EX-Fianna Fáil councillor Cillian Murphy is to leave the party to become parliamentary assistant to a Fine Gael TD.
Cillian, who was a county councillor from 2019 until 2024, has been appointed as parliamentary assistant to newly elected TD, Joe Cooney (FG).
Cooney’s team will also include Maureen Cleary who runs the marketing business, Marketing & More. The O’Callaghan’s Mills woman spent ten years as the Marketing Executive of Clare Tourism. Her husband Robbie Madden was unsuccessful in his bid to be co-opted to Clare County Council following Cooney’s election.
Bodyke-based Frances O’Mara was in the running for the co-option but did not contest the selection convention. The Mills native is also joining Cooney’s constituency team. She formerly ran O’Mara’s Bookmakers in Scariff.
Both Maureen and Frances will serve as administrative assistants.
Cooney’s constituency office will be located in The Market in Ennis in the building which up until the end of October functioned as a post office. The office is expected to be fully operational by the end of the month.
The Clare Echo has learned that Murphy recently resigned his position on the Clare Fianna Fáil CDC (Comhairle Dáil Ceanntair) and will let his party membership lapse in 2025. He was elected to the CDC at its AGM in July of last year following his unsuccessful bid for re-election to the Council.
During his five years on the Council, he served for a year as Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District and was praised from councillors across the political divide for his ability to source data through motions. Former Mayor of Clare, Patrick Keane (FF) described him as “one of the best county councillors in Ireland” when reflecting on his five year stint.
Alongside his wife Mary, Cillian ran Murphy Blacks restaurant in Kilkee for 15 years up until the end of 2019. Prior to this, they ran a bar for five years. He is also a qualified tourism consultant and is a founder of Loop Head Tourism.
His defeat in the local elections was among the biggest shocks in the county with party strategists critical of the directive from headquarters to run four candidates in the competitive Kilrush local electoral area (LEA). Indeed party leader, Micheál Martin (FF) lamented the defeat, he told The Clare Echo in July, “I was very disappointed at losing Cillian Murphy, I dealt with him and Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan on coastal matters, nature restoration and ecological issues, it is an awful pity… It is one that got away and we should not have lost that seat”.
His vote dropped from 1,100 in 2019 to 1,011 in 2024. Speaking to The Clare Echo after losing his seat, Cillian commented, “I was left a little to fly my own aeroplane with a very small team, Cathal Crowe and his family gave me great support, Pat Keane, Paddy Hurst, I had guys that did a great job as a small team but I think if you were to be critical and analyse it we’ve lost a seat, that is down to party management that we’ve lost the seat”.
In 2004, he contested the local elections in the Kilrush LEA as a Green Party candidate but was the first candidate eliminated.
After ex Clare FM reporter James Mulhall stepped down as PA to Cathal Crowe TD (FF), Murphy’s name was among the potential replacements, however former Morning Focus producer Ben Sweeney was appointed to the role in June.
Deputy Cooney confirmed the appointments to The Clare Echo. “I am delighted that Cillian is joining my Constituency office team as Parliamentary Assistant. He will bring a blend of political knowledge and experience working with local communities to the role that will contribute greatly to the work of my team, which also includes Maureen Cleary and Frances O’Mara in the role of Administrative Assistants. I will operate a Constituency Office that is responsive to the needs of everyone in Clare and to achieve this, it is important I have the right people in place to deliver such a service”.
Cillian told The Clare Echo, “My interest in politics has always been about what can be done for the communities I represent. I see this new role as being another way of doing just that and I think it’s great that Joe has chosen to have someone from West Clare as part of his team”.
