Boxer Kenneth Egan is to step away from local politics

CLONDALKIN councillor Kenneth Egan is stepping away from politics, ten years after joining Fine Gael.

The former boxer (42), who won a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will not contest the local elections in June.

It represents a blow for the party, who will struggle to take two seats in the Clondalkin ward.

Mr Egan served two terms on South Dublin County Council and was expected to retain his seat, but is stepping away to focus on his psychotherapy and public speaking business.

“It’s has been a great 10 years to serve on South Dublin County Council, I have had some great times in the chamber with my colleagues,” he said.

“I just want to step away from the public eye and get on with living. I want to now focus on my psychotherapy and mental health public speaking,” he added.

Amid much fanfare in February 2014, Egan was unveiled to the media as a Fine Gael candidate during a press conference in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel.

The former boxer and mental health advocate went on to win a seat in 2014 and again in 2019.

In August 2020, Egan resigned the party whip after breaching covid travel guidelines following his return from a boxing event in the UK where he was part of an Irish coaching team.

More recently, Mr Egan was involved in efforts to rezone land in Greenogue to support “blue collar” workers, as there is a “chronic shortage” of sites in the county for this industry.

Egan’s amended Motion supporting the Greenogue rezoning was passed in South Dublin County Council but overturned by Fine Gael Minister for State Peter Burke (FG).

Speaking to The Echo at the time in March 2023, Mr Egan blasted the decision as a “disaster” believing it could cost at least 2,500 jobs to the county.

“It is a disgrace that over half the councillors voted twice in favour of this, having examined all the evidence put forward, and then it is overturned by a Fine Gael Minister who has since moved on,” said Cllr Egan.

“What is the point of being elected, we want to represent the people, and this place was unique. It has everything, huge potential for blue collar jobs.”