*Mike Enright (left) with Eamon Ó Cúiv and Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF).
A FIANNA FÁIL officer has said party members in Clare were owed an apology from Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) for their disastrous Presidential Election campaign.
Mike Enright was elected Vice Chairperson of the Fianna Fáil Clare Chomairle Dáilcheantair at Friday’s AGM in Hotel Woodstock.
During the meeting, he asked if any apology had been issued to the party branch in Clare by the Taoiseach following Jim Gavin’s (FF) withdrawal in advance of polling day which left Fianna Fáil with no candidate for the Arás.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Enright outlined, “There was different items on the agenda, I saw ‘apologies’ and I presumed that there was something coming from Micheál Martin or Seán Dorgan which is why I asked the question, I presumed our Director of Elections Gerry Reidy or someone from headquarters was coming to the grassroots, I was expecting something but nothing came, we will have to wait for this report from Margaret Murphy O’Mahony, whatever will be in that, it seems to be coming from headquarters but there doesn’t seem to be anything for the grassroots”.
Newmarket-on-Fergus native Enright was nominated for both Chairperson and Vice Chairperson but opted not to contest Mary Crawford for the top seat. Explaining his decision not to run against Crawford, he said, “I took a decision, I know Mary Crawford a long time, I contested her before and actually beat Mary in the previous Convention in 2016, I’ve worked with Mary on different events in Clare like the 1916 commemoration for the election of Eamon de Valera, she was brilliant on that committee. I wish Mary all the best, I think she will be a great Chair in Clare, she is the first lady elected to the role, I’m looking forward to the coming year, it will be 100 years of Fianna Fáil”.
After serving as Chairperson for eight years, Mike was away from the officer board for sixteen months, returning at Friday’s AGM. “I’m going to go back in and help Mary, we have a big year coming up to mark the 100 years of Fianna Fáil, I’m delighted to be part of that and do everything to support Mary and the Fianna Fáil organisation in Clare,” he stated on what he hopes to offer after a break from the board.
