Courtmac sows seeds for Chris and Holly's romance

BY MARTIN WALSH

COUNTY Mayor Christopher O’Sullivan (FF) and Cllr Holly Cairns (SD) have finally gone public on their blossoming romance.

After months of speculation, Christopher made their relationship official once and for all when he opened Courtmacsherry Harbour Festival last weekend.

Opening the event in the village hall, he told the huge crowd gathered that he had the seaside village to thank for his first kiss as a teen; and more recently for introducing him to Social Democrat Cllr Holly.

He said: ‘It’s really cool that I am actually here in this hall because … this is where my love affair with Courtmacsherry began.  Back when I was a teenager (I won’t say what age) it was down at the back there (during the underage discos) that I got my first kiss.’

And then he added: ‘And in a full circle of events, this is where I met Holly (Cairns) a few months back.’

No wonder, then, that he said: ‘This is my favourite village in Ireland.’ 

Holly a first time councillor, elected in May, is also involved in her Skibbereen-based family business Brown Envelope Seeds.

Although coming from vastly different political persuasions, the young couple are both passionate about environmental and wildlife issues.

Christopher also recalled his first appearance as a member of Cork County Council.  ‘This is where I attended my first public meeting in 2007, it was to do with the Wastewater Treatment Plant and it’s great to see it’s nearing completion.’

Meanwhile, festival chairperson Stephen Finn outlined the various projects that have been completed, others that are under way and some in the pipeline for the village that has been nominated for a Pride of Place award. The popular ‘Recognition Award’ was presented to Diarmuid O’Mahony, whose contribution to the community was documented.