The shocking act happened near the Shannon River on the Condell Road I PICTURE: Google Maps
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11 Mar 2026
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11 Mar 2026
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Councillor Maurice Shortall has said he recently turned down an approach from a political party asking him to join their ranks.
In a statement posted to social media, the independent councillor confirmed that he had been contacted but decided not to accept the offer, saying he intends to remain independent.
“I have declined that offer,” Cllr Shortall told followers.
Shortall said he believes it is important to respect the mandate he received from voters when he was elected without party affiliation.
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“I was elected by the people as an independent councillor and I will continue to serve as an independent for this term.
“My priority is representing my constituents, many of whom value having an independent voice rather than party politics.
“I believe the people who voted for me deserve the representation they chose, and I intend to respect that.”
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Shortall was elected as an independent councillor and has previously emphasised the importance of maintaining a non-party political voice in local government.
"It’s not fair on the electorate when a candidate is voted in for 5 years and they abandon ship or party hop," he told Kilkenny Live when approached for further comment.
"That’s not something I would ever do to people. I’m enjoying my time as an independent and sure it can be hard working on your own but it's worth it when you're not listening to a head office and being told what to say and what to believe in.
"The response from people since I’ve broke the news has justified my easy decision."
Shortall also previously told Kilkenny Live in an interview that his decision to enter politics was motivated by a desire to give a stronger voice to younger and working-class people in his community and to show that people from his generation can become involved in public life.
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