Three Mayo Fianna Fáil members were elected to the party’s governing body, the Ard Comhairle, at the party’s 74th Ard Fheis at the weekend.
Deputy Dara Calleary was re-appointed honorary secretary of the party while 26-year-old barrister Lisa Chambers from Castlebar was re-elected as party vice president.
Mayo accountant Henry Cleary was also elected to the Committee of 20 representing members on the Ard Comhairle, beating off stiff competition from other members.
More than 4,000 Fianna Fáil members from across the country travelled to the RDS in Dublin for the two-day event. The theme was ‘A Fairer Way to Recovery’ and focused on tackling the mortgage crisis, protecting community services, supporting rural Ireland, and ending socially regressive cuts that are damaging recovery.
The Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: “This Ard Fheis was an important step in our journey to renew Fianna Fáil and change the way politics works in this country. There was overwhelming support from members for changes to the party’s structure to give members a stronger voice in the future of the party. I put forward motions, which were backed by members, to include the membership in the election of any future party leaders and to give the membership a say in any future programmes for government, involving Fianna Fáil.
“I want to congratulate Henry on his election to the Fianna Fáil Ard Comhairle, in what was a highly competitive race. I am confident that he will play an important part in key organisational and policy decisions over the next year. I know that Dara and Lisa will also continue to be an important and positive addition to the executive.”
