An Ennis Councillor has announced he is to resign his Council seat in order to enter the priesthood.
Mark Nestor was elected as the youngest member of Clare County Council in 2019’s local elections.
A native of Cloughleigh, Mark Nestor took the third of seven seats on offer when standing for Fianna Fail in the Ennis Municipal District in 2019.
He’s been noted for his work around the Irish language, community and voluntary groups and mental health services since taking his seat.
Councillor Nestor had been set to take up the mantle of Mayor of Ennis earlier this year, though that title ended up going to his party colleague, Clare Colleran Molloy, following what was at the time his little known intention to step away from the role.
That development, and the reasons behind it, have now been made clear, with the Cloughleigh man set to begin formal training to join the priesthood as soon as next week.
In an exclusive interview with Clare FM’s Morning Focus, Mark says there were a number of occasions he put off the calling, but ultimately made the decision in March of earlier this year.
He says while he has no regrets about entering political life three years ago, he feels it’s important to continue to encourage young people to run for election.
Councillor Nestor says that the possibility of juggling both roles wasn’t possible either ‘spiritually or logistically’.
The Fianna Fail representative says it’s been an ‘honour’ to represent the people of Cloughleigh, Ennis and the county of Clare, and that he is hopeful of continuing to do this in a different capacity going forward.
Listen back to the full interview here:
