Waterford Council has backed Independent Councillor Kieran McCarthy as a Presidential candidate.

At a meeting of the local authority in Dungarvan, 11 candidates pitched for the votes of councillors.

After this, it was agreed that Waterford Council would propose to nominate a candidate.

This was as a result of 15 councillors voting in favour of doing so and 11 against.

Ind Cllr Joe O Riordan then proposed Kieran McCarthy and this was seconded by Ind Cllr Joe Kelly.

A vote then took place on this proposal, with 11 councillors backing Kieran McCarthy, 10 voting against and five abstaining.

Kieran McCarthy is a former Lord Mayor of Cork.

Waterford Council is the first local authority to back Cllr McCarthy in his bid.