*File pic: Mary Crawford with Billy Kelleher MEP and Gerry Reidy.
INAGH’s Mary Crawford has been elected as the first female Chair of Fianna Fáil’s Clare branch with the party’s AGM hearing if any apologies have been sent by Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) to the county following the Presidential election.
For the second year running there was no contests at the AGM of the Fianna Fáil Clare Chomairle Dáilcheantair.
Snooker greats Ken Doherty and Jimmy White along with Clare hurler Ian Galvin and trick shot master John Virgo were in Hotel Woodstock on Friday evening but it wasn’t for the Fianna Fáil AGM and rather a snooker extravaganza.
Fianna Fáil members left The Doonbeg Suite of Hotel Woodstock with sweaty brows but this was more to do with air conditioning and not rising tempers as had been expected with the prospect of a battle for the chair.
No contest ensued when former Chairperson Mike Enright opted not to seek a return to the role despite being nominated. The Newmarket-on-Fergus dairy farmer said he was happy to accommodate the elevation of sitting Vice Chairperson to the top spot having beat her in a vote when taking on the role in 2016.
Enright was then proposed and seconded for Vice Chair which seals his return to the officer board. Former local election candidate, Louise Roche McNamara (FF) was elected as secretary, succeeding Garret Greene who stepped down earlier in the year.
Tom Costelloe remains as joint treasurer, this time assisted by Christy Kelly after Pat Murphy’s exit. Liam Hayes makes the step up from youth officer to PRO, a role which has been vacant following Cillian Murphy’s resignation from the party in January.
Ex Shannon Town Councillor, Geraldine Lambert continues as membership officer with Angela Coll returning to the fold, this time as women’s/equality officer.
As apologies were read out from members unable to attend the meeting, Enright asked if Taoiseach Micheál Martin or Sean Dorgan, secretary general of Fianna Fáil issued apologies to party members for their calamity which was their Presidential Election campaign. His comments led to applause and laughter from party members.
Provincial organizer of the party, Colm Leahy advised prior to the meeting that access to the meeting was not open to the media. As Fianna Fáil battles with declining support in opinion polls and continues to pick up the pieces from the Jim Gavin fiasco, the move was a different tack to the 2024 AGM when no such barriers were raised.
“It was your article that filled the room,” remarked Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) as he left the meeting and entered the lobby of Hotel Woodstock. Leahy and senior party officials keen to keep the fourth estate away from proceedings may not have heard the comments at the time but will be sure to come across them in the near future.
Among those present at the AGM were Junior Minister, Timmy Dooley (FF), TD Cathal Crowe (FF), former Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen (FF), Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF), Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF), Cllr Rachel Hartigan (FF), Cllr Michael Shannon (FF), Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF), Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), Cllr Pat Daly (FF), Cllr Shane Talty (FF) and Cllr Joe Killeen (FF).
Retired councillors, Pat McMahon and Patrick Keane were also present along with Martin O’Loghlen and Ben Sweeney, parliamentary assistants of Dooley and Crowe.
Outgoing Chairperson, Darragh McAllister was among those to depart proceedings early and described his year-long stint as “a stop gap”.
Junior Minister Dooley told the meeting that Taoiseach Martin would be leading Fianna Fáil into the next General Election and Deputy Crowe put forward his rationale for nominating Jim Gavin for the Presidency.
More frequent meetings of the party branch are needed, Cllr Hayes argued while Cllr Daly flagged the impact of the Clareabbey wastewater treatment plant hitting full capacity. The ballot paper for the Presidential election should have allowed for more candidates, Cllr Shannon told the meeting.
Housing is the most important issue in the county, Cllr Killeen stressed while the case of keeping a viable post office network was underlined by Cllr Tom O’Callaghan. The need to improve health services in the region was outlined by Cllr O’Gorman.
Fianna Fáil CDC Officer Board:
Chairperson: Mary Crawford
Vice Chairperson: Mike Enright
Secretary: Louise Roche McNamara
Treasurer: Christy Kelly
Treasurer. Tom Costelloe
Membership Officer: Geraldine Lambert
PRO: Liam Hayes
Women’s/Equality Officer: Angela Coll
Youth Officer: to be decided by Ógra officer board
Honorary Presidents: Tony Killeen, Sile de Valera, Patrick Moloney
Honorary Vice Presidents: Ann Arthur O’Brien, Mary O’Dwyer, Mary Leahy, Joan Barrett, Michael McNamara
