This article is from page 6 of the 2012-03-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
RE-ENERGISED and enthused ahead of the next local election, that is how the secretary of Clare’s Fianna Fáil Comhairle Dáil Cheantair Gerry Reidy described the party after its first Ard Fheis since the 2011 General Election.
Although Fianna Fáil may be reduced to just one TD in Clare, the lowest in the history of the state, the Banner county was once again painted as deValera country at this weekend’s Ard Fheis conference.
More than 140 members from around Clare travelled to the RDS in Dublin for the party’s annual gettogether.
Figures revealed from Fianna Fáil headquarters showed that Clare not only had the highest number of cumann registered nationally every year for the last three, but also brought the most money to the table.
From 2009 to 2011, Clare raised the most money in the national collection, collecting € 23, 594.26 in 2009, € 21,727.35 in 2010 and € 16, 536.02 in 2011. Financial support for the party dropped considerably in 2011 after the General Election, which saw its number of TDs, reduced to 19.
Clare, however, continued to contribute the largest amount, an achievement that was marked with an award to Mary O’Dwyer treasure of the Comhairle Dáil Cheantair.
The number of cumann registered in 2011, like the funding, dropped significantly to 70 in Clare.
Despite this low number, however, Clare still registered the largest number of cumann nationally.
There are 142 cumann or branches of Fianna Fáil in Clare but just 104 registered in 2009, and 121 in 2010 – but again the largest number in the country.
“The number of cumann registered in Clare for the past three years is a good indication of the health of the organisation,” said Mr Reidy.
The large number of registered cumann and the financial support from the county, coupled with the three Clare members on the national executive, makes the county very influential within the party, according to the Clare secretary.
He is also a constituency delegate and is therefore on the national executive, as are Deputy Timmy Dooley as vice-president and Garrett Greene as a member of the Committee of 20.
Mr Reidy was particularly enthusiastic about the number of young people who took part in this year’s ard f heis.
Younger members of the party, through Ógra Fianna Fáil, sought the majority of the motions for change in political life.
Among Clare Ógra Fianna Fáil’s many motions was one asking that the Ard Fheis calls on the Government to enact legislation banning all corporate donations to political parties.
Meanwhile, Marian Coughlan Flynn from Ennis was acknowledged at the weekend for selling the highest number of tickets in Munster for the party’s super draw, and co-ordinating the second largest sale nationally.