Mayo barrister Lisa Chambers has been elected as vice president of Fianna Fáil. The 25-year-old from Castlebar, who was a Fianna Fáil candidate in Mayo in the last General Election, was elected by delegates at the party’s Ard Fheis in the RDS in Dublin last weekend.
Ms Chambers joins Ballina TD Dara Calleary, who was also re-appointed as honorary secretary on the Fianna Fáil Ard Comhairle.
Ms Chambers received huge support to be elected second in the ballot, just behind long standing Aine Brady, former TD and junior minister. Ms Chambers, who already serves as the party area representative for Castlebar, becomes one of the five vice presidents to take up office immediately.
Her appointment will give her a key strategic role as Fianna Fail begins the task of rebuilding itself, with a special emphasis on new young candidates to represent the party in the future.
On her election Ms Chambers stated: “It is a wonderful honour to be chosen by Fianna Fáil members to represent them on the party’s National Executive. I will be a voice for the younger Fianna Fáil members, representing their views on the party’s governing body. We are committed to radically increasing female participation in politics, and the Ard Comhairle will lead the way.”
Kathryn Byrne whose mother (Margaret nee Gavin ) hails from Balla, was also elected as one of the five vice presidents of Fianna Fáil. Mayo accountant Henry Cleary was also elected to the committee of twenty on the Ard Comhairle. The secretary of the PJ Rutledge Cumann in Ballina, Carmel Hughes, was also honoured with an award for outstanding long service at a ceremony in the RDS on Saturday night.
Extending congratulations to all parties Mayo TD Dara Calleary stated: “My congratulations to Lisa Chambers and Henry Cleary on their success and to Carmel Hughes for the recognition she received for her years of service to Fianna Fáil in Ballina.
“The positive atmosphere and the energy we saw this weekend is testament to the fact that Fianna Fáil has a strong and vital role to play in the future of Irish politics. I want to thank all of those from Mayo who travelled up to the Ard Fheis and made their voices heard about the future of the party.”
