Cork Fine Gael councillor Peter Kelly, who is giving up politics to make a new life in New Zealand, is to be replaced on the county council by a Carrigaline-based shopkeeper.
John Collins (49) was narrowly beaten for the last Carrigaline seat in the local elections in 2004. He is the public relations officer of the Carrigaline branch of Fine Gael and has been a member of the party since the late 1970s.
Mr Collins was formally co-opted to the council following a party vote on Monday evening.
The other candidate vying for Mr Kelly's position was accountant Dave O'Leary, who is based in Douglas.
Mr Collins said yesterday that he was looking forward to the challenges facing him in the coming months and years. "I recognised the fact that Peter Kelly would be a hard act to follow," he said, "but I believe I have enough experience at this stage and I will attempt to follow in his footsteps."
Meanwhile, Mr Kelly (36), who has been active in politics for more than 18 years, is to move to New Zealand in the near future. Mr Kelly grew up in Douglas, attending Douglas Boys national school and Rochestown College.
First elected in 1999 as a Progressive Democrat, he changed his allegiance to Fine Gael soon afterwards and was re-elected in 2004 for that party.
He is a qualified chartered accountant and left his job in 2002 to concentrate on politics.