WATCH: Malone re-elected but confirms this term will be his last - Kilkenny Live
Cllr Joe Malone first stood for the Fianna Fáil party in 2009
Cllr Joe Malone has confirmed this will be his last term as a councillor with Kilkenny County Council.
Mr Malone retained his seat in the Kilkenny City LEA during Sunday night's local elections, picking up transfers on each count since his first preference vote of 1,041, eventually surpassing the quota on Count 12.
Cllr Malone was visibly delighted at the news celebrating with wife Josephine and son Jamie after a difficult year for the family following Mr Malone's cancer diagnosis. A health scare that almost brought Malone's 15 year political run to an end.
"I was contemplating whether I'd run or not and I spoke to a few people close to me; Josephine, Jamie and a few of my close friends that I was going to stand down from it but I had the operation on February, 23 and I decided I'd take time out for a while but I'm glad I stayed," Malone commented, complementing the positive reaction he received from the public.
However, now aged 61, the Fianna Fáil representative exclusively told Kilkenny Live he won't be seeking re-election in 2029.