Flatley takes steps to help former chef’s mayoral bid
DANCE superstar Michael Flatley has recorded a special video endorsing his former chef’s bid to become the directly elected Mayor of Clonakilty.
The move comes as voters in Cork, Limerick and Waterford prepare to cast their vote in the plebiscites for mayors in those areas.
Flatley’s favoured candidate, Richy Virahsawmy ,opened Richy’s Restaurant in the west Cork town 14 years ago. He has appeared on RTÉ show Today and runs cooking classes.
Mr Virahsawmy has also cooked for countless high-profile guests – including Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair.
In a video posted on the Richy For Mayor Facebook page, Flatley, 60, who had a home for many years in Co. Cork, said he was giving his backing to the restaurateur’s campaign.
‘Just a quick note to say I wish you the very best of luck in your bid to become the Mayor of Clonakilty. I know you a long time Richy and you are a great man. You richly deserve this honour,’ he said.
Mr Virahsawmy moved to Clonakilty in 2002. Born in Mauritius, he trained in catering at Merton College in Surrey, England, and started work as a commis chef in 1992. He worked as a sous chef in Kent, before moving to the Lodge and Spa at Inchydoney Island in west Cork. He became executive head chef at Britain’s Department of Trade and Industry in London in 1999, managing 33 chefs and having responsibility for Tony Blair’s dining at 10 Downing Street.
Clonakilty is the only town in Ireland with its own mayor after the Government abolished all the statutory town councils in May 2014. That year, history group Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage organised a special election in which nine people stood for the position. Some 1,600 people voted and five candidates were elected, and since then they have held the position of mayor for one-year terms, in the order of votes they received.
Ten candidates will be on the ballot paper tomorrow, and polling will be open at Scoil na mBuachaillí from 9am to 7pm.