Ógra Fianna Fáil

Ógra Fianna Fáil
President	Tom Cahill
Founded	1975
Headquarters	65–66 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Mother party	Fianna Fáil
Website	fiannafail.ie/ogra-fianna-fail/

Ógra Fianna Fáil (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, with branches (called cumainn) in major third level institutes and parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland it is organised on a county and city basis, along with third level branches at the University of Ulster and Queen's University Belfast. 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.

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

Eoin Neylon won the election for president of Ógra two years in a row, in both 2014 and 2015. Neylon is a great grand nephew of 1916 Easter Rising veteran Peadar Clancy.

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. He is the grandson of former Government Minister Michael Woods

Lawrencetown native Tom Cahill is the current Uachtarán, having been elected in November 2019. He is the youngest President to date and the first from Galway.

History

Foundation and early years

It was during the period of 1974 and 1975 that a specific youth section of Fianna Fáil was established to cater for the needs of young people within the party. To that end, the party leader Jack Lynch and the general secretary of the party Séamus Brennan moved to found Ógra Fianna Fáil. The first National Youth Conference was held in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin in January 1975, and had four delegates from each Dáil constituency. By the second National Youth Conference, a national youth scheme had been formulated, establishing youth committees in each Dáil constituency. From then on, the annual National Youth Conference has been the cornerstone around which all youth activity within Fianna Fáil has revolved.

The 1977 general election had a very visible and high-profile youth campaign with a special advertising programme geared to winning the youth vote. The election results brought in a range of new young members to the Fianna Fáil ranks in the Oireachtas; among them future Government ministers, party leaders and Taoisigh such as Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowen and Micheál Martin, TD – the latter two of which had served as Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of Ógra Fianna Fáil.

As the 1980s and 1990s progressed, Ógra became an essential component of the Fianna Fáil Party as a whole. It gained the right to vote in all candidate selection conventions. It developed an active policy formulation role, a role that became increasingly recognised by party spokespersons, policy-makers and government ministers.

Northern Ireland

An organisation-wide review conducted in 2006 found that there was widespread support within Fianna Fáil for the establishment of an activist base in Northern Ireland. From 2007, Ógra Fianna Fáil has been actively recruiting members throughout the region, as well as at Third Level in Queen's University Belfast and in the University of Ulster. It was subsequently decided at the party's 2009 Ardfheis to establish a forum in each of the six counties of Northern Ireland, to better facilitate party members residing there who wish to meet and engage with Fianna Fáil public representatives and members. The 2015 National Youth Conference was held in Newry, the party's first conference in Northern Ireland.

2011–12 organisational reforms

Following criticism from rivals Labour Youth, changes introduced at the 2011 National Youth Conference in Cork provided a modest overhaul of Ógra's internal organisation. The National Youth Committee, renamed the Ógra Central Officer Board, was halved in size from over twenty down to ten with only one Regional Organiser for each region instead of three. The Officer Board is much more function-based with directly-elected Policy and Campaigns Director, Events Director and Membership and Development Director. As well as this, the new position of Uachtarán Ógra Fhianna Fáil (President) was created where the former positions of Cathaoirleach (chair; a member of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party) appointed by the party leader, and Leas-Cathaoirleach (vice-chair; the highest elected official within Ógra itself) were merged into one role.

The first Ógra National Council meeting was held on 28 January 2012. The National Council was established to give accountability and oversight to the Central Officer Board. It has the power to remove Officers, overturn its decisions, direct actions, and fill casual vacancies. It consists of three delegates from each registered Ógra CDC and Third Level branches.

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), 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.

• 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.
• 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.
• Ógra Third Level Cumann – Most higher education institutions have an Ógra Fianna Fáil Cumann. These branches generally have similar status to an Ógra CDC.
• 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.
• 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).
• Ógra Central Officer Board (COB) – The Central Officer Board is responsible for the management of Ógra. It consists of a President, Policy and Campaigns Director, Events Director, Membership and Recruitment Director, Regional Organisers, a Press Officer, Irish and Cultural Officer, International Officer, and the National Youth Officer.
• 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.

Central Officer Board

Current COB

COB Position	Officer	Home CDC	Predecessor
Uachtarán	Tom Cahill	Galway East	Ian Woods
Policy Director	Andrew McFadden	Foyle	Tom Cahill
Membership and Recruitment Director	Tory McGlynn	Sligo-Leitrim	Malachy Hand
Campaigns and Events Director	George Gil	Cork South-West	Shane Curley
International Officer	Ryan O'Meara	Tipperary	Peter Caulfield
Northern Organiser	Ruairí Cormican	Lagan Valley	Ian Molloy
Leinster Organiser	Bryan Mallon	Meath East	Thomas Foy
Munster Organiser	Lee Nolan Bolger	Waterford	Darajane O'Sullivan
Connacht-Ulster Organiser	Martina Mannion	Mayo	Darra Deane
Dublin Organiser	Liam Gleeson	Dublin North West	Conor Gallagher
Irish and Culture Officer	Caoimhe NicGabhann	Cavan-Monaghan	Elaine Dold

Former members of the Central Officer Board (since 2011 reforms)

Uachtarán - Eamon Quinlan, Kate Feeney, Eoin Neylon, James Doyle, Ian Woods

Policy Officer - Tom Cahill

Campaigns & Events Officer - Shane Curley

Membership & Recruitment Director - Malachy Hand, Niamh Traynor, Jessica Ní Mhaoláin

Policy & Campaigns Officer (split) - Peter Caulfield, Michelle Cullinane, Ian Woods

Events Officer (now merged) - Dion Davis, Molly Ryan, Barry Gillen

International Officer - Keith Henry, Peter Caulfield

Irish Officer - Elaine Dold, Sorcha Ní Chonghaile, Caolán MacGrianna, Gavin Curry, Feidhlim Mac Róibín

Connacht/Ulster Organiser - Darra Deane, Tom Cahill, Andrew Finn, David Keane

Munster Organiser - Darajane O'Sullivan, Róisín Redmond, Ciara Cronin, David Griffin

Leinster Organiser - Thomas Foy, Jessica Canisales, Peter Keenan, Eimhin Boland, Darren Hughes

Dublin Organiser - Conor Gallagher, Cathal Haughey, Aoibheann Mahon, Ben Stafford, James Doyle

Northern Organiser - Ian Molloy, Paul McNamee, Briege MacOscar

Third Level Organiser (discontinued) - Tory McGlynn, Dean Walsh, Joanne Keating, Eden McLaughlin, Thomas Foy, Mark Holt

Members who served in more than 1 COB position since 2011 reforms

3

Tom Cahill - Uachtarán, Policy Director, Connacht/Ulster Organiser

2

Tory McGlynn - Membership and Recruitment Director, Third Level Organiser

Ian Woods - Uachtarán, Policy Director

Thomas Foy - Leinster Organiser, Third Level Organiser

Peter Caulfield - Policy & Campaigns Director, International Officer

James Doyle - Uachtarán, Dublin Organiser

Consecutive Terms Served

3

Tom Cahill - Uachtaran, Policy Director, Connacht/Ulster Organiser

Niamh Traynor - Membership & Recruitment Director (2 full terms, 1 half term)

2 Eoin Neylon - Uachtarán (both)

Peter Caulfield - Policy & Campaigns Director, International Officer

Gavin Curry - Irish Language & Cultural Officer

Briege MacOscar - Northern Organiser

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 1974. 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.

Dublin City University – Pádraig Pearse Cumann

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

University College Cork – Donnogh O'Malley Cumann

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 Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath (Irish politician), Minister for Education Norma Foley and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee.

Trinity College Dublin – Wolfe Tone Cumann

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 Lou McDonald, Mary Harney 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.

Cumann de Barra currently hold the record for the most Gobnait O'Connell Award victories with 4, their most recent win being in Limerick in 2016.

Some 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.

Other Third level branches

• National University of Ireland, Maynooth – Seán Lemass Cumann
• Queen's University Belfast – Mary McAleese Cumann
• University of Limerick – Con Colbert Cumann
• University of Ulster – Watty Graham Cumann
• Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
• Institute of Technology, Carlow – James Fintan Lalor Cumann
• Dublin Institute of Technology
• Waterford Institute of Technology – Thomas Francis Meagher Cumann

Awards

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

1. Gobnait O'Connell Award for best Ógra unit that year

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 tragically 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.

2. Frain Award for best non-third level unit in Ógra

3. Best Speaker Award to recognise the best speaker during the conference

4. Biggest Delegation Award to recognise the unit with the largest number of delegates at the conference

Gobnait O'Connell Winners

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 - Cumann Con Colbert, 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 - Donagh O' Malley Cumann, UCC

Darragh Frain award

2019 - Tipperary CDC

2018 - Roscommon CDC

2016 - Laois CDC

Best speaker

2018 - Ryan O'Meara

2016 - Ammar Ali

2014 - Susan Whelan

2011 - Gábháin Ó Comhraí

External links

• Official website