Colonel William A. Phillips

Edit links

Ógra Fianna Fáil[a](Irish: [ˈoːɡɾˠə ˌfʲiən̪ˠə ˈfˠaːlʲ]; meaning "Youth of Fianna Fáil") is the youth wing of Fianna Fáil.

The organisation was founded in 1975 by party leader Jack Lynch under the guidance of party general secretary, Séamus Brennan. It is active on an all-Ireland basis,[2] with branches in major third level institutes (called cumainn) and parliamentary constituencies (called Comhairle Dáil Cheantair) in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland it is organised on a Council District basis, along with third level branches at the University of Ulster and Queen's University Belfast.[3] In October 2014 Ógra became an official full member organisation of European Liberal Youth at their annual congress in Berlin.

Membership

Membership for Ógra Fianna Fáil is open to anyone between the ages of sixteen and thirty who supports the aims and ideals of the organisation and those of the general party itself.

Uachtarán

From the inception of the organisation until 2011 Ógra was chaired by the youngest member of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party. Since 2011 Ógra have elected a president of the organisation. The first president of Ógra was Eamon Quinlan, who later became mayor of Waterford City in 2015.[4]

In 2013 Blackrock's Kate Feeney was elected as the first female leader of Ógra.[5][6] She is a daughter of former senator Geraldine Feeney and was elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council whilst president of Ógra in 2014.[citation needed]

Eoin Neylon won the election for president of Ógra two years in a row, in both 2014 and 2015.[7]

James Doyle of Dublin Fingal was elected to the office in November 2016, serving one term. Dún Laoghaire's Ian Woods was elected to the role in March 2018.[citation needed]

Lawrencetown native Tom Cahill was elected as Uachtarán in November 2019. He was replaced by Bryan Mallon in March 2021. On 20 December 2021 a motion to remove Mallon as president received 62% of support from members, but failed to reach the required 66.7% for it to pass, and so he was not removed from office.[8] This was the first time ever that a motion to remove an officer was submitted.

Niall Gaffney was elected as Uachtarán in April 2022. Current Uachtarán Nelius Cotter succeeded Niall Gaffney in November 2023.

Organisation

Ógra Fianna Fáil is organised across all the 32 counties of Ireland, maintaining a presence in most local communities and Third Level institutes. Within Ógra Fianna Fáil there four different types of units that can be formed: Ógra Comhairle Dáil Ceantair (CDC) in the Republic of Ireland, Council District Constituency (CDC) in Northern Ireland, Ógra Comhairle Ceantair (CC), Ógra Third Level Cumann, and Ógra Coiste Áitiúil. The three governing bodies of Ógra Fianna Fáil are the National Youth Conference, Ógra Central Officer Board and Ógra National Council. [9]

  • Ógra Comhairle Dáil Ceantair (Ógra CDC) – The Ógra CDC covers the area of the Dáil constituency as set out by the Constituencies Commission, or in some cases where a constituency crosses a County border; it covers the area of that County.[10]
  • Ógra Council District Constituency (CDC) - The Ógra CDC covers the area of the Local government in Northern Ireland. They have the same status as Comhairle Dáil Ceantair within the organisation.
  • Ógra Comhairle Ceantair (Ógra CC) – This type of unit is smaller than an Ógra CDC, it only includes the Ógra members who are in a particular part of the constituency, most likely a local electoral area (LEA). Ógra CC members may also be members of a Third Level Cumann and an Ógra CDC.[11]
  • Ógra Third Level Cumann – Most higher education institutions have an Ógra Fianna Fáil Cumann. These branches generally have similar status to an Ógra CDC.[12]
  • Ógra Coiste Áitiúil – Ógra members in a particular local area are encouraged to form local units to allow the local members to come together to discuss issues and to organise events to promote Fianna Fáil. This form of Ógra unit was instigated to support the organisation in places where may not be practical or possible for Ógra members to travel long distances to Ógra CC or CDC meetings, or not possible to establish an Ógra CC.[13]
  • Ógra National Youth Conference (NYC) – The National Youth Conference is the supreme decision-making body of Ógra. The conference takes place every 12–18 months with the venue being decided by interested units presenting their bids to the delegates at National Council. The location for the NYC is rotated between each of the regions: Northern Ireland, Munster, Connacht/Ulster and Leinster. The Conference gives the young members of Fianna Fáil a forum to express their views and opinions and develop national policies. All votes for policy motions and COB positions are carried out via One Member One Vote (OMOV).[14]
  • Ógra Central Officer Board (COB) – The Central Officer Board is responsible for the management of Ógra. It consists of a President, Policy Director, Campaigns and Events Officer, Membership and Recruitment Officer, Regional Organisers, a Press Officer, Irish and Cultural Officer, International Officer, Equality Officer and the National Youth Officer.[15]
  • Ógra National Council (NC) – The National Council provides oversight to the work of the Central Officer Board. Meetings are usually held every 8–12 weeks. All members of the organisation are entitled to attend meetings. Unlike the NYC, National Council functions under a delegate system where every registered Ógra CDC and Third Level Cumann is entitled to send 3 delegates ( at least 1 man and 1 woman) to National Council to vote on behalf of their CDC or cumann. These delegates can hold the COB to account, debate policy and submit and vote on motions.[16]

Central Officer Board

Current COB

COB Position Officer Home Constituency Predecessor
Uachtarán Nelius Cotter Cork East Niall Gaffney
Policy Director Mark Larkin Galway East Brian O'Connor
Membership and Recruitment Officer Claire Taylor Dublin North-West Nelius Cotter
Campaigns and Events Officer Maria Wall Kilkenny Susan Meehan
International Officer Colm Maher Waterford Sorcha Ní Chonghaile
Irish and Culture Officer Cian Harmon Meath West Caoilinn Gaughan
Education & Equality Officer Caoimhe Callan Galway East Fintan Bray
Ulster Organiser India Kennedy Donegal India Kennedy
Leinster Organiser Seán O'Brien Wicklow-Wexford Cian Domican
Munster Organiser Eamonn Doran Cork North-Central Colm Maher
Connacht Organiser Padraig Cawley Sligo-Leitrim Éanna Walsh
Dublin Organiser Ciarán Mac Dermott Dublin Mid-West Liam Gleeson

[17]

Third level branches

Kevin Barry Cumann – UCD

The Kevin Barry Cumann is the branch in University College Dublin (UCD). The cumann predates the founding of Ógra Fianna Fáil which was established in 1956. It formally dates to 1957 when led by Gerry Collins, then a student organiser in UCD and later Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is named after UCD student and Irish revolutionary Kevin Barry.

Former members include former European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, previous ministers Dick Roche and Mary Coughlan, Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue and RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy. The author and former political lobbyist Frank Dunlop was also a member.

Malcolm Byrne is a former secretary of the Kevin Barry Cumann.[18]

The Cumann is the current holders of the Gobnait O'Connell award after the 2023 Cork National Youth Conference.

Pádraig Pearse Cumann – DCU

The Dublin City University branch is the Pádraig Pearse Cumann,[19] commonly known as The PPC. At the Fianna Fáil National Youth Conference in Roscommon in 2018,[20] it was awarded best delegation.

Donogh O'Malley Cumann – UCC

The Donogh O'Malley Cumann is the University College Cork branch of Ógra. Founded in 1967, its first AGM was chaired by Jack Lynch. Former members of the cumann include the current leader of the party Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath (Irish politician), Minister for Education Norma Foley and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee.

As of 2021, they held the joint record for the most Gobnait O'Connell Awards (awards given to the best Ógra branch[21]) won with 4 in the years 2001, 2015, 2019 and 2021.[citation needed] They also hold the joint record for most Gobnait O’Connell Awards won consecutively which is 2 in a row.[citation needed]

Wolfe Tone Cumann – Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

The Trinity College branch is named in honor of Irish revolutionary and Trinity graduate, Theobald Wolfe Tone. The Cumann was officially constituted in 1967 and was initially named after Erskine Childers. In 1998 the cumann was renamed the Wolfe Tone Cumann, to mark the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion. It has a long history of activism within Ógra on a national basis. Past members include; Thomas Byrne, Seán Haughey, Jack Chambers, James Lawless, Mary Harney, Mary Lou McDonald and Dara Calleary.

Cumann De Barra – NUIG

Cumann De Barra is the branch in the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). Meetings were held off campus for many years before it was officially recognised by university authorities and allowed to host itself as an official society of the university in 1954. Like its sister Cumann in University College Dublin (UCD), it is also named after Kevin Barry, a medical student at UCD who fought and was executed during the Irish War of Independence. To avoid confusion however, it officially changed its name to the Irish language version to reflect NUIG's reputation as the Irish language university.[citation needed]

Notable former members include former Fianna Fáil TD Michael P. Kitt, the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins (before he joined the Labour Party), Senator Terry Leyden, Senator Lisa Chambers and former MEP Seán Ó Neachtain.[citation needed]

Other third level branches

There are other branches of Ógra Fianna Fáil in third level institutions throughout the country, including:

Atlantic Technological University Sligo Cumann[22]

Atlantic Technological University Galway-Mayo – Sean Mulvoy Cumann[23]

Dundalk Institute of Technology Cumann[24]

Maynooth UniversitySeán Lemass Cumann[25]

Munster Technological University Cork – Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa Cumann

South East Technological University Carlow – James Fintan Lalor Cumann

South East Technological University Waterford – Thomas Francis Meagher Cumann[26]

St Patrick's, Carlow College Cumann

Technological University DublinKathleen Clarke Cumann

University of LimerickCon Colbert Cumann[27]

Ulster UniversityWatty Graham Cumann[28]

Queen's University BelfastWilliam Drennan Cumann[29]

Awards

Each year at the National Youth Conference, the organisation gives out 4 awards:

Gobnait O'Connell Award

The Gobnait O'Connell memorial award was first announced at the National Youth Conference 2000 in Westport, Co. Mayo.  The award is named after Gobnait O’Connell, Youth and Membership Development Officer of Fianna Fáil from 1997 to 2000 who was killed in a car accident in September 2000. During her time working for Fianna Fáil her passion and support for Ógra was widely recognised among members.  The prize will be awarded to the Best Ógra of each year and a perpetual trophy and a cash prize will be presented at each Youth Conference.

Gobnait O'Connell Winners

2023 - Kevin Barry Cumann, UCD

2022 - Con Colbert Cumann, UL

2021 - Donogh O’Malley Cumann, UCC

2019 - Donogh O'Malley Cumann, UCC

2018 - Laois Ógra CDC

2016 - Cumann de Barra, NUIG

2015 - Donogh O'Malley Cumann, UCC

2014 - Wolfe Tone Cumann, TCD

2013 - Cumann de Barra, NUIG

2012 - Con Colbert Cumann, UL

2009 - Tipperary North CDC

2008 - Limerick West CDC

2007 - Cumann de Barra, NUIG

2006 - Cumann de Barra, NUIG

2005 - Tipperary North CDC

2002 - Clare CDC

2001 - Donogh O' Malley Cumann, UCC

Darragh Frain Award

The Darragh Frain award is presented to the best non-third level unit in Ógra at the National Youth Conference. The award is named after former Ógra member Darragh Frain from Galway, who died in 2016.

Darragh Frain award Winners

2023 - Kildare North CDC

2022 - Offaly CDC

2021 - Kildare North CDC

2020 - Kildare North CDC

2019 - Tipperary CDC

2018 - Roscommon CDC

2016 - Laois CDC

Best Speaker Award

To recognise the best speaker during the National Youth Conference.

Best speaker Winners

2023 - Charlie Kinsella

2022 - Ruairí Ryan

2021 - Niall Gaffney

2019 - Rory Hogan

2018 - Ryan O'Meara

2016 - Ammar Ali

2014 - Susan Whelan

2011 - Gábháin Ó Comhraí

Biggest Delegation Award

To recognise the unit with the largest number of delegates at the National Youth Conference.

Biggest Delegation Winners

2023 - Wolfe Tone Cumann, TCD

2022 - Kevin Barry Cumann, UCD

2021 - Not Awarded

2019 - QUB

2018 - DCU

Presidential Award for Distinguished Service Winners

2023 - Awarded by Niall Gaffney - Rob Kellaghan, Leanne Mallen & Brian O'Connor

2022 - Awarded by Bryan Mallon - Briege MacOscar, Ian Woods & Shane Curley

2021 - Awarded by Tom Cahill - Kate Feeney, Eoin Neylon & Peter Caulfield

Notes

  1. ^ In the Irish language, the initial letter of a proper noun in the genitive, as in [Youth of] Fianna Fáil, is lenited, and therefore the grammatically correct spelling is Ógra Fhianna Fáil, with a silent "fh".[1]

References

  1. ^ Houses of the Oireachtas (3 August 2017). An Caighdeán Oifigiúil (PDF) (Report). p. 44. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Ógra Organisation".
  3. ^ "Ógra Northern Organisation".
  4. ^ "Quinlan elected Mayor of Metropolitan District". Munster Express Online. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  5. ^ "First female president of Ógra Fianna Fáil elected ·". Thejournal.ie. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Is this the face of Fianna Fáil's future?".
  7. ^ "Top Ógra Fianna Fáil positions for Claremen". The Clare Herald. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  8. ^ Power, Jack. "Ógra Fianna Fáil president survives vote on motion to remove him". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Ógra Central Officer Board".
  10. ^ "Ógra Comhairle Dáil Ceantair (Ógra CDC)".
  11. ^ "Ógra Comhairle Ceantair (Ógra CC)".
  12. ^ "Ógra Third Level Cumann".
  13. ^ "Ógra Coiste Áitiúil".
  14. ^ "Ógra National Youth Conference (NYC)".
  15. ^ "Central Officer Board Members".
  16. ^ "Ógra National Council (NC)".
  17. ^ "Ógra Fianna Fáil". www.fiannafail.ie. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  18. ^ "When Senator Malcolm Byrne's sexuality featured on the front of a newspaper, he knew his life would not be the same again, he tells Dónal Lynch". Sunday Independent. 27 September 2020.
  19. ^ "DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY (Pádraig Pearse Cumann) | Ógra Fianna Fáil". www.ogra.ie. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Over 500 Young People Attend the Fianna Fáil National Youth Conference 2013 | Ógra Fianna Fáil". Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ^ "Laois Ógra Fianna Fáil presented with prestigious award". www.leinsterexpress.ie. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Ogra Fianna Fail - ATU Sligo Clubs & Socs". sligo.atusulife.ie. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Fianna Fáil Society - ATU Galway-Mayo Clubs & Socs Clubs & Societies". galwaymayo.atusulife.ie. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Societies at DkIT". DkIT - Dundalk Institute of Technology. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Ogra Fianna Fail - MU Life Clubs & Societies". mulife.ie. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  26. ^ "SETU Young Fianna Fail - South East Technological University | Waterford". www.wit.ie. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Ogra Fianna Fail - UL Wolves Clubs & Societies". ulwolves.ie. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Fianna Fail". www.uusu.org. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Ogra Fianna Fail". home.q-su.org. Retrieved 22 December 2023.

External links