CLARE Ógra Fianna Fáil has elected its first female chair, Ennistymon’s Aoíbhann de Búrca Quinlivan, at its recent AGM.

Youth wing members from across the county came together with Oireachtas members Cathal Crowe TD and Senator Timmy Dooley to elect the leadership team for the year at the meeting. The newly elected chair replaces outgoing chair Fionn Sexton of Miltown Malbay.

Clare Ógra veteran and national political staffer David Griffin will remain on as deputy chair with Liam Hayes as secretary, Jack O’Dea elected PRO and Colm Maher taking the role of treasurer.

Aoíbhann said, “I’m delighted to take on the role of chair of Clare. There is a lot of work to do but we are all very excited to see what we can achieve in the coming year.

“We have a fantastic team in place with excellent support from our public representatives.

“The main focus over the next few months will be getting our name out there and welcoming in new members.

“Anyone with an interest in politics, in helping their community and in meeting new friends would love Ógra. It’s important to me that young people in Clare know that we are an inclusive and progressive organisation working for a better future for Clare.

“Ógra Fianna Fáil has been an incredibly welcoming and friendly community for me over the past few years and I’m excited to see what we can do for the organisation and more importantly our communities over the next 12 months.”

Speaking after the meeting, deputy chair David Griffin said, “It’s great to see young, female talent coming to the fore in the party.

“Aoíbhann, who plays a key role for the party at a national level, will bring huge energy and a new approach to the organisation.”

“Youth participation in politics is hugely important. We need to see young people stepping up and speaking up to ensure that the issues that matter to young people from the climate emergency, to accessing third level education, to public transport, to buying an affordable home are dealt with.

“Clare has the potential to be a vibrant, well connected and attractive place for young people to live and work, but we need to make sure that we seize the opportunities available to us and that we incentivise job creation and that we attract people to live and work in our communities.”