Profile: Pat Buckley (Sinn Féin)

Pat Buckley (47) is married with two teenage children. He is a councillor and a voluntary worker and PRO of the Let's Get Together Foundation a non profit suicide prevention group. He founded the suicide charity after two of his brothers took their own lives. Buckley says there are families bereaved by suicide badly in need of counselling all over the State. He said at one point they were attending a suicide funeral every two weeks in Midleton and surrounding areas. Based in Broomfield, Midleton, Buckley is best known for his campaign for enhanced health services. He is noted for his strong opposition to health cuts within the Cork area. His selection followed the decision of sitting Sinn Féin TD Sandra McLellan not to contest the election following internal party wrangles. Elected first as a Midleton town councillor, he was elected to Cork County Council in 2014. He is a member of a number of local community organisations in the area.