Ross O’Connell

Meet Ross

Ross O’Connell is the Social Democrats councillor for Bantry on Cork County Council.

Ross O’Connell is a 29-year-old PhD researcher from Goleen on the Mizen. He is passionate about making West Cork a place for people to stay and live through the development of sustainable communities.

Growing up in West Cork, the son of the local doctor and district nurse, he has worked in tourism at Mizen Head Signal Station and local bars, volunteered in the Irish Coast Guard, and played on local teams.

He now researches Marine Renewable Energy at University College Cork and has recently graduated with an MSc in Geography and Geoinformatics at the University of Copenhagen. During his time in Denmark he experienced social democracy first-hand and reached a new understanding of how to achieve sustainable societies. He has also lived in Canada and Iceland and has worked at sea for one year.

He is committed to carrying on the work of Holly in the Council, especially concerning greater transparency and environmental issues. In addition, he is eager to support rural communities through initiatives such as a West Cork greenway, incentives to develop disused buildings and aiding small scale fisheries.