Ogra Fianna Fáil Success At Conference

Ger Fogarty, second from the left, with fellow members of the Ogra Central Officer Board.

A strong delegation from North Tipperary Ogra Fianna Fail attended the
parties annual National Youth Conference in Cork on the 4th to the 6th of November last. The theme of the conference, which was attended by over 400 people from across Ireland, was “Looking to the Future” and
members attended seminars on job creation, education and the economy
alongside debating motions on a wide range of topics which included
organisational reform, public sector reform, education, enterprise and
health amongst others. The conference was addressed by Uachtarain
Fianna Fail Micheal Martin TD during a town hall styled seminar on the
topic of “What should Fianna Fail stand for”. Members were also
addressed by fellow Ogra member Cllr. David McGuinness who recently
made a stunning performance during the Dublin-West by-election.

The highlight of the weekend was the Central Officer Board elections
which saw Ger Fogarty, the secretary of North Tipperary Ogra Fianna
Fail, being elected the National Policy and Campaigns Director of Ogra
Fianna Fail. Mr Fogarty, a native and resident of Thurles, was elected
to the position following a vigorous election campaign which
incorporated a national tour of constituencies across Ireland in order
to garner support for his ambitious plan for the future of Ogra Fianna
Fail. Mr Fogarty, the first directly elected Policy and Campaigns
Director of Ogra following a radical overhaul of the organisation,
beat stiff competition from a former Ministerial advisor and the
current chair of the UCD Kevin Barry Cumann, PhD student John Regan.

As national policy and campaigns director of Irelands largest
political youth wing, Mr Fogarty will be responsible for the promotion
and co-ordination of the organisations policy and campaigns at a
national level. Furthermore Mr Fogarty will sit upon the Fianna Fail
Ard Chomhairle, the parties National Executive, with the purpose of
representing the viewpoints of the members of Ogra at a senior level
within the party. Upon taking up the position Mr Fogarty thanked those
who had supported him throughout his campaign and commented, “I want
to ensure that Ogra becomes a progressive and radical movement which
actively promotes the views of young people in Ireland. It is time for
Ogra to play its role in the renewal of Fianna Fail, and I will work
tirelessly to ensure that each and every member of Ogra is represented
on the Central Officer Board.”

Mr Fogarty enjoyed further success with the UL Cumainn, which he
recently stepped down as Chair from, being awarded the coveted Gobnait
O’Connell Ogra of the Year award, which was won by North Tipperary
last year and again in 2004.

Members were accompanied by Honorary President Cllr. Seamus Hanafin
MCC who congratulated the strong delegation from North Tipperary and
the immense campaign that was put in to elect a member from North
Tipperary to a national position for the first time.

The reforms within Ogra ensure for the first time the direct election
of different function based positions and also made way for the
election of a new Uachtarain Ogra Fianna Fail in Waterford’s Eamon
Quinlan. The reforms also include the extension of membership age from
26 to 30.

For more information or to join Ogra please email northtippogra@gmail.com.