SHSS Alumni Link - Christopher O'Sullivan T.D.

This week we have an extra special edition of SHSS Alumnae Link. We connected with an ALUMNUS of the school: Christopher O’Sullivan T.D.

Christopher repeated his Leaving Cert at Sacred Heart in 2002 and still has fond memories of his time here.

So, for this week only, it’s SHSS Alumni Link.

Name and position:

Christopher O’Sullivan TD

Lives:

Clonakilty, Co. Cork. 

Best memory of Sacred Heart:

I met my first ever proper girlfriend. Her name was Yvette and she was from Mexico (in those days the Convent had boarders, which included international students).

What were your favourite classes?

Biology with Mrs Gilbert and Business Studies with Miss Coughlan even though I was terrible at business studies, she was an excellent teacher and Physics with Mr Pegler wasn’t bad either.

 Tell us about your career progression to date:

Graduated from University Of Limerick with a Law Degree in 2007.  From there I went into Cork County Council in the summer of 2007 and was re-elected in 2009, 2014 and 2019.  In the Summer of 2019, I was elected as Mayor of Cork County which is definitely up there as a career highlight.  For the 2020 general election I was only added to the party ticket about four weeks prior to the Election.  That gave me essentially one week to put a team together and start a proper election campaign.  That put me at a disadvantage but when my team gained momentum, they were absolutely fantastic. 

If you weren’t in the job you have, what would you be doing?

Definitely an ecologist or marine biologist. 

Advice you would give your teenage self:

I was actually quite a nervous teenager and pretty awkward in some social situations, down to the fact that I was so consumed about what other people were thinking about me, I would certainly say, care less about what other people thought of me and give myself a bit more credit and respect. 

Favourite quote or motto?

"I wish the world was twice as big - and half of it was still unexplored”

Sir David Attenborough. 

What is your hidden talent?

Whistling and cartwheels.

Huge thanks to Christopher for taking the time to answer our questions!

See you soon for the next instalment of SHSS Alumnae Link!