Fianna Fáil – An All Ireland Party?
Picture the scene, April 2016…..Arbour Hill, Dublin 7
Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil and An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD is joined by Patsy McGlone MLA, Fianna Fáil Leader at Stormont. Here, they lay a wreath on behalf of all Irish people who fought and died for Irish Independence. While the names of those taking part may chanhe, the chance to see a FF Taoiseach and the leader of FF in Stormont standing side by side at Arbour Hill is a real possibility.
We are now a little over seven years away from the 100th Anniversary of what is generally accepted as the starting point for the modern Irish State – An Eirí Amach 1916. For those on the Republican side of Irish politics and by Republican, I mean all people who actively support a free, democratic and secular Irish State across the entire Island, this is a pivotal moment and a commemoration that still brings tears to many a persons eyes.
I’m going to look at the Fianna Fáil Stormont Leader and see how I believe it can come about. Before I do this, I think its important to look at what has happened in the past number of years and see what the exact position is in November 2009.
Ógra Fianna Fáil is now unequivocally an All Ireland youth group. Since 2006/2007, Ógra has been actively been recruiting members in the six counties, new cumainn have been set up in Queens University Belfast (Cumann William Drennan) and in University of Ulster (Cumann Watty Graham) The Senior Fianna Fáil leadership has now accepted this and have even gone further. Fianna Fáil fora have been set up or are about to be set up in South Armagh, South Down, Fermanagh and Antrim with the approval and blessing of the Leadership. Cynics will argue that these fora are nothing more than talking shops to keep Northern members happy. Perhaps that was the intention but remember this, once a stone starts rolling down a hill, it gathers momentum and the longer you leave it roll, the harder it will be to stop.
Having spoken to many Northern FF members over the past number of weeks, I can see the absolute determination and conviction they have with regard to this project. They will not settle for anything less than the right to vote FF in the north, to elect FF councillors and MLA’s and the chance to see FF in government in the North. Over the next 9 months, many important decisions will be made. While I have previously ruled out a merger with the SDLP, I still believe that what happens in that party has an effect on FF in the North. The current leadership battle between Alasdair McDonnell and Margaret Ritchie is not simply between pro FF and pro Labour forces. One cannot say that a victory for either will hold back or speed up Fianna Fáils move into 6 county politics. The real determining factor will be the Westminster Elections due for May 2010. I expect both Mark Durkan in Foyle and Alasdair McDonnell and Eddie McGrady in South Down. Apart from this, I cannot see any hope of an SDLP win bar West Tyrone. What Im trying to say is that the SDLP have retreated to their core areas. The joke has always been that the SDLP stood for the ‘South Down and Londonderry Party’ and unfortunately this seems to be becoming a reality. Young people north of the border are looking for a party that represents their ambitions and desires. They want a party that is supportive of Business endeavours but smart enough to realise that all people need a helping hand from time to time. Ógra currently has in excess of 250 people in Northern Ireland. While many are in university, some have already left and are now working. They yearn for party that can unite their Republican ideals and their desires for employment and prosperity. Fianna Fáil has enough talent North of the border to bring a fresh face to northern politics.
An Saoránach 