The handover continues a long-standing tradition between Cork city and Ford
19:05, 06 Jan 2026Updated 19:08, 06 Jan 2026
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Fergal Dennehy was presented with the 2026 Lord Mayoral car, a fully electric Ford Capri Premium, by John Manning, Market Lead, Henry Ford & Son Ltd.(Image: Brian Lougheed)
The Lord Mayor of Cork has officially been handed the keys to his new motor for 2026, upholding a decades-old tradition between Leeside and Ford.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Ferghal Dennehy, has been provided with a brand new Ford Capri Premium Electric Extended Spec with the head-turning ‘1-C’ license plate. The car will be used for all the Lord Mayor’s official duties for the remainder of his term.
The car was handed over by Ford Market Lead John Manning, marking the fifth consecutive year that the mayoral car has been fully electric. The car was switched from conventional to electric to help promote more sustainable modes of transport
Speaking after the handover, Lord Mayor Cllr Fergal Dennehy said: ” I want to take this opportunity to thank John, and Henry Ford & Sons for continuing to support the office of the Lord Mayor through the provision of the Mayoral car.
“This tradition, spanning over 80 years, highlights the fantastic partnership between Ford and Cork City Council. As a local authority, we are working to promote sustainable practices throughout Cork. As first citizen, I am delighted to continue to lead by example by using this beautiful, fully electric model.”
The car gives a little nod to Cork’s history, with the Capri being among the cars assembled here on Leeside before the closure of the Ford factory in 1984.
The model has come a long way since its introduction in 1968, with this latest model operating solely on electric power. The Ford Capri Premium Electric Extended Spec has a range of 627 km with a charging speed of 28 minutes.
John Manning, Market Lead, Henry Ford & Son Ltd. said: “We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the Office of the Lord Mayor, a relationship that has now spanned more than 80 years.
“The presentation of the fully electric Ford Capri Premium as the 2026 Lord Mayoral car reflects both our deep roots in Cork and our shared commitment to sustainability and progress.
“As this marks the fifth consecutive year of an electric vehicle supporting the Lord Mayor’s duties, it underlines Cork City’s leadership in embracing cleaner, greener mobility, and we are delighted to play our part in supporting that journey.”