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. 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. Lawrencetown native Tom Cahill was elected as Uachtarán in November 2019. He was replaced by Bryan Mallon in March 2021. On 20 December 2021 a motion to remove Mallon as president received 62% of support from members, but failed to reach the required 66.7% for it to pass, and so he was not removed from office. This was the first time ever that a motion to remove an officer was submitted. Niall Gaffney was elected as Uachtarán in April 2022. Current Uachtarán Nelius Cotter succeeded Niall Gaffney in November 2023.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) in the Republic of Ireland, Council District Constituency (CDC) in Northern Ireland, ''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 Council District Constituency (CDC) - The Ógra CDC covers the area of the Local government in Northern Ireland. They have the same status as Comhairle Dáil Ceantair within the organisation. *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 Director, Campaigns and Events Officer, Membership and Recruitment Officer, Regional Organisers, a Press Officer, Irish and Cultural Officer, International Officer, Equality 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 COBThird 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 1956. 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 formerPádraig Pearse Cumann – DCU
The Dublin City University branch is theDonogh O'Malley Cumann – UCC
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 Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath (Irish politician), Minister for Education Norma Foley and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee. As of 2021, they held the joint record for the most Gobnait O'Connell Awards (awards given to the best Ógra branch) won with 4 in the years 2001, 2015, 2019 and 2021. They also hold the joint record for most Gobnait O’Connell Awards won consecutively which is 2 in a row.Wolfe Tone Cumann – Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
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 theCumann De Barra – NUIG
Cumann De Barra is the branch in theOther third level branches
There are other branches of Ógra Fianna Fáil in third level institutions throughout the country, including: Atlantic Technological University Sligo Cumann Atlantic Technological University Galway-Mayo – Sean Mulvoy Cumann Dundalk Institute of Technology Cumann Maynooth University – Seán Lemass Cumann Munster Technological University Cork – Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa Cumann South East Technological University Carlow – James Fintan Lalor Cumann South East Technological University Waterford – Thomas Francis Meagher Cumann St Patrick's, Carlow College Cumann Technological University Dublin – Kathleen Clarke Cumann University of Limerick – Con Colbert Cumann Ulster University – Watty Graham CumannAwards
Each year at the National Youth Conference, the organisation gives out 4 awards:Gobnait O'Connell Award
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 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.Gobnait O'Connell Winners
2023 - Kevin Barry Cumann, UCD 2022 - Con Colbert Cumann, UL 2021 - Donogh O’Malley Cumann, UCC 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 - Con Colbert Cumann, 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 - Donogh O' Malley Cumann, UCCDarragh Frain Award
The Darragh Frain award is presented to the best non-third level unit in Ógra at the National Youth Conference. The award is named after former Ógra member Darragh Frain from Galway, who died in 2016.Darragh Frain award Winners
2023 - Kildare North CDC 2022 - Offaly CDC 2021 - Kildare North CDC 2020 - Kildare North CDC 2019 - Tipperary CDC 2018 - Roscommon CDC 2016 - Laois CDCBest Speaker Award
To recognise the best speaker during the National Youth Conference.Best speaker Winners
2023 - Charlie Kinsella 2022 - Ruairí Ryan 2021 - Niall Gaffney 2019 - Rory Hogan 2018 - Ryan O'Meara 2016 - Ammar Ali 2014 - Susan Whelan 2011 - Gábháin Ó ComhraíBiggest Delegation Award
To recognise the unit with the largest number of delegates at the National Youth Conference.Biggest Delegation Winners
2023 - Wolfe Tone Cumann, TCD 2022 - Kevin Barry Cumann, UCD 2021 - Not Awarded 2019 - QUB 2018 - DCUPresidential Award for Distinguished Service Winners
2023 - Awarded by Niall Gaffney - Rob Kellaghan, Leanne Mallen & Brian O'Connor 2022 - Awarded by Bryan Mallon - Briege MacOscar, Ian Woods & Shane Curley 2021 - Awarded by Tom Cahill - Kate Feeney, Eoin Neylon & Peter CaulfieldNotes
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ogra Fianna Fail Fianna Fáil Youth wings of political parties in Ireland Youth wings of conservative parties Youth wings of political parties in Northern Ireland Youth organizations established in 1975 1975 establishments in Ireland All-Ireland organisations Irish republican organisations Student organisations in Northern Ireland Student organisations in the Republic of Ireland