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COUNCIL PROFILE: CORK CITY:THE BIG question in Cork city, as it is nationwide, is to what extent Fianna Fáil candidates can appeal to personal loyalties to insulate themselves from public anger over the party’s performance in Government and its handling of an economic crisis which has seen unemployment in the city rise by over 7,000 in the year to April 2009.

In 2004, Fianna Fáil’s first-preference vote in Cork city fell 7 per cent to 29 per cent and with the party’s national support down to 20 per cent in the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, it faces a real fight to hold its 10 seats. Fianna Fáil’s biggest challenge is arguably in the mainly working-class northwest ward where, with the seats reduced from five to four, its sitting councillor Tony Fitzgerald will be under pressure from Labour councillor Mick O’Connell and Fine Gael councillor Joe O’Callaghan. Both Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien and Independent councillor Dave McCarthy looking safe.