Tag Archives: Fianna Fáil

CLARE has voted by a significant majority to remove the crime of blasphemy from its constitution. As expected, Clare voters endorsed this move with 61.88% voting in favour and 38.114 voting against. The total electorate was 83,044 and the total poll was 41,766. There were 755 spoilt votes leaving a total valid poll of 41,021. The blasphemy referendum, which was held alongside the presidential election is the latest sign of the weakening of religious conservatism in the country. The last prosecution for blasphemy in Ireland was in 1855, but three years ago gardaí investigated comments made by Stephen Fry on television in which the comedian described God as “capricious”, “mean-minded”, and an “utter maniac”. The investigation, which was initiated following a complaint made in Ennis Garda Station was later dropped after gardai decided insufficient numbers of people had been outraged. Ireland voted to allow same-sex marriage in 2015, and nearly two-thirds of Irish voters backed the repeal of the country’s …

The death occurred last night (Wednesday) of Mr Colm Wiley of Bodyke, former Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council. A popular figure in his parish and throughout the county, Mr Wiley was a Fianna Fáil representative on the council for 30 years. Some years back, he was honoured at a special function in Mountshannon attended by the then Taoiseach Brian Cowen. During his time as a member of Clare County Council, he held a number of positions, including as chairman of the council itself from 1994 to 1995. During his time in the council, Mr Wiley he saw 16 councillors pass on the chain of office and worked with five county managers. He started out with Fianna Fáil while working in Dublin in 1959, where he attended meetings at the party’s Dublin South Central branch at a time when the then Taoiseach Seán Lemass was also a member. Mr Wiley went to England for work before returning to Ennis to contest …

THE 100th anniversary of the election of Éamon de Valera at the 1917 East Clare By-Election will be marked by a series of commemorative events in Ennis later this month. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Síle de Valera, grand-daughter of de Valera and former Clare TD, will attend the events planned for Saturday, July 22. The commemorative events will take place at the Old Ground Hotel at 2pm and will include lectures from noted historians, music by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éíreann and a photographic and election memorabilia exhibition. Deputy Martin will make an address to the audience. Following the activities in the hotel, a full dress parade, led by a brass band, will march, led by Micheál Martin and Síle DeValera, from the Old Ground Hotel to the O’Connell Monument – the site of some of Éamon de Valera’s most famous speeches. At the O’Connell monument, there will be a re-enactment of the announcement of the election of de Valera, …

Poll-topp er in the last local elections, Councillor Cathal Crowe is seriously considering contesting the next general election following the unexpected transfer of almost 6,000 voters into the Clare constituency. A new report published by the Constituency Commission recommends that the high variance in the constituency be addressed by the transfer of 5,994 people from the electoral division of Ballyglass in Limerick City to Clare. This will restore the breach of the county boundary for the next general election. The last deputy from the area was Patrick Brennan from Meelick, who was elected for Cumman na nGael in the 1920s. Councillor Crowe revealed to The Clare Champion that he will discuss the possibility of seeking a coveted place on the Fianna Fáil general election ticket with his family and political supporters over the coming days. “I would love to be a TD for Clare. I would love a chance to win a place on the Fianna Fáil ticket for the …

CLARE Fianna Fáil commemorated the 1916-1923 period and the 90th anniversary of the founding of the political party at a packed event in Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis, last Sunday. The guest of honour was Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, grandson of Eamon de Valera, the founder of the Fianna Fáil party. An exhibition of War of Independence memorabilia, together with family heirlooms and documents, were on display. The exhibition is the largest one seen in the county to date. The event was opened by the organising committee chairperson, Mary Crawford, who paid tribute to all members of the Volunteers and Cumann na mBan for their role in helping to set up the new State. She also paid tribute to the nine Volunteers whose families were in attendance and who lost their lives in the period. A reading of the Proclamation by Eoin Neylon, president, Ógra Fianna Fáil, was followed by poetry, song and music. In his address, Mr Ó Cuív …

Clare independent TD Dr Michael Harty has expressed his frustration over the failure of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to engage in meaningful discussions about supporting a new minority government led by the other party. Dr Harty has also confirmed no agreement has been reached between five rural independent deputies and Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil to support a new rainbow coalition. However, both parties have agreed to the proposed introduction of a new rural affairs minister with a substantial budget. According to Dr Harty, one of the main tasks of the new minister is to “rural-proof” proposed decisions taken by other government departments to assess their impact on rural communities. The Kilmihil-based deputy has joined Deputy Michael Collins from West Cork; Denis Naughton, Roscommon; Mattie McGrath, Tipperary and Noel Grealish, Galway, in a team of rural deputies who have held discussions with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil about a potential government partnership agreement. Dr Harty said the group, which …

Clare Fianna Fáil got their General Election strategy wrong, according to former Defence Minister and Fianna Fáil Deputy, Tony Killeen. His views are at odds with those of local Fianna Fáil director of elections, Gerry Reidy, who believes the entry of Dr Michael Harty into the Dáil race cost the party two seats. Speaking during a General Election debate, organised by The Clare Champion in Cáirde, Ennis, on Monday night, Mr Killeen said, “A lot of Fianna Fáil people are very exercised by the fact we got almost 3,000 more first preferences than Fine Gael and, even allowing for a slightly better transfer to Fine Gael from Labour, we only won one seat. “One person described it as a ‘monumental failure’. I don’t agree with him. The first step for Fianna Fáil in Clare is to admit we got it wrong. “I said previously that if we didn’t divide the vote more evenly, we would be in trouble and, if …

The recent Clare Champion 2016 General Election opinion poll has generally been borne out on polling day. Apart from some changes in the parties’ actual vote, the ‘Champion poll, which was taken two weeks previously, identified some of the key trends, which transpired on February 26. It revealed the emergence of Dr Michael Harty as a very strong candidate, who looks set to take the second seat in the Banner County. In addition to predicting a seat for outgoing Fianna Fáil Deputy Timmy Dooley and Pat Breen, Fine Gael, it indicated that Sinn Féin candidate, Noeleen Moran would be in contention for the last seat with Labour’s Michael McNamara and Fine Gael Deputy, Joe Carey. Some interesting findings have emerged when comparing the poll with the tally results. According to the tally,  Fianna Fáil is on 31.11% Fine Gael 25.98% Labour 7.8% Sinn Féin 7.18% Independents 23% Fís Nua 1.98% Green 2.95%. The poll  found Fianna Fáil was on 27.91, …