Gerry O’Connor

Hoping to serve with honour as leas-Uachtarán – O’Connor

Gerry O’Connor

Leas-Uachtrarán Nua

the Fianna Fáil organisation nationallyelects five vice-presidents at its ardFheis. this year Gerry O’Connor, Sligohas been nominated to contest one ofthese positions. two positions arereserved for parliamentary partymembers (one male; one female) andtwo for non-pp members (one m. one f.)the remaining position is open to anycandidate.

Gerry O’Connor was appointedFianna Fáilconstituencyorganiser anddirector-of-elections in2004 withresponsibilityfor Sligo-Nth.Leitrim. this electoral areahas frequently achieved above-averageresults for the party; replicating theparty’s accomplishments in the previousSligo-Leitrim configuration. three FiannaFáil tDs were elected in the former fourseat constituency on two occasions;1982 and 1987. in 2007; Gerry’s first asdirector-of-elections, Fianna Fáilreturned with two of the three availableseats. the subsequent local elections(2009) were challenging, to say the least,but the organisation managed to electseven party members to a 25-seatCouncil. there was to be no seat for

Fianna Fáil in 2011 despiteachieving a respectable 21.8%of the first preference vote.

in the 2014 local electionsthe party returned to itswinning ways electing eightCounty Councilors to the new18 seat Council including fiveof the available eight seatsin the tubbercurry-ballymote municipal

district; the best resultof any single partysince Pr wasintroduced to thecountry.

Fianna Fáil hasalways had strongrepresentation inthe Seanad fromthe area andGerry O’Connorhas been heavily involved in theseelections also as well as taking a veryactive part in european ballots.

One of the highlights of Gerry


Gerry O’Connor

ONe member -vitaL rOLe

O’Connor’s tenure as constituencyorganiser was the hosting of the ÓgraConference in Sligo in 2013.

the Sligo-Nth. Leitrim constituencywill cease to exist on the dissolution ofthe 31st. Dail and the electoral area toreplace it will be made up of all ofCounty Sligo, all of County Leitrim andsubstantial portions of Counties Donegaland Cavan.

Gerry O’Connor as Chairman of theSligo County Community Forumoversaw the changes brought about bythe 2014 electoral act and cooperatedwith Sligo County Council officials toform one of the strongest PublicParticipation Networks (PPN) in theCountry containing as it does 290community groups. he was elected tothe Sligo Local Community DevelopmentCommittee (LCDC) and the secretariat ofthe PPN. he is a member of the housingand Corporate SPC and is currentlySecretary of Sligo Gaa County board.

the election takes place at the FiannaFáil ard Fheis in the rDS on the 24th ofapril.

Gerry is a Director of the interface Financial Group.


Leas-Uachtrarán nuaLe haghaidh an obair crua

it’s easy to be anti-austerity.it takes initiative to create

prosperity!

Great hungerto great knowledgemy Grandfather was appointed principal of Leharrow National School, DromoreWest Co.Sligo in 1910 and was joined there by margaret mchugh, milltown,Co.Galway some years later. they were to marry and spend all their working livesin that school. With the formation of the “Free State” they had to receiveintensive instruction in irish in order to teach Gaeilge to their pupils; so much forhome rule!

as part of the historical research conducted by the Folklore Commission the“master” arranged to have stories relating to the famine in the area writtendown and extracts from these reports are to be found in Cathal Póirtéir’s bookon the subject. the effects of the Famine in rann na Feirste are describedthus- D’imigh an sport agus an caitheamh aimsire. Stad an fhilíocht agus anceol agus an damhsa. Chaill siad agus rinne siad dearmad den iomlán agusnuair a bhísigh an saol ar dhóigheannaí eile ní tháinig na rudaí seo ariamh arais mar a bhí siad.

most of the O’Kanes’ students emigrated with little more than their“primary certs.” but the education they received stood to them as exams inthe New york Police force or the boston fire service were no challenge tothem and promotion along with job security followed. Others studied innight school and those that found work in construction were sought afteras they could read plans and write reports as foremen.

today a seven room school built on a green field site stands near theoriginal two roomed building. it is one of many opened by Fianna Fáilgovernments in recent times. Now the pupils from that school areexpected to continue their studies at second level; thanks to 1960sFianna Fáil legislation. among the many secondary schools availableto children in Sligo they may chose to enter Summerhill College onthe outskirts of Sligo town another new-build opened by a FiannaFáil led Government. Fianna Fáil is in the business of openingschools; not closing them.

the pupils leaving Dromore West National School today have the opportunity to continuetheir studies to third-level without leaving their own County; something that would have beenunimaginable for the pupils of master O’Kane. it Sligo has seen massive investment by successiveFianna Fáil governments over the years and along with institutes of technology all over theCountry provides opportunities for those who wish to avail of them.

then as now, “education is no load to carry,” – Gerry O’Connor.



actions of a vice-President

having “served my apprenticeship” as Director-of-elections i have nowdecided that the time is right for me to seek election to the role of vice-President. my intention is to use the position to promote the party . . .not myself. there is a lot of unglamorous but essential work to be done ina modern political movement and i feel that i have the qualifications andadministrative experience to improve how we do things in Fianna Fáil.

• Support Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil and represent the party withintegrity

• represent all the members; Fianna Fáil is not partitioned

• Forensically examine the top five; best (and worst) results inthe recent local elections from convention to count andprepare a detailed report

• Put together separate compact committees to prepare forthe next european and Local elections now

• appoint constituency organisers as a matter of urgencywhere vacancies exist

• Prepare a “job description” for these appointees

• Prepare a “code of conduct” that would outline howpermanent staff, elected members and volunteerscommunicate with each other

• ensure Fianna Fáil has adequate printing capabilities

• Prepare a long-term urban-strategy.


Fianna Fáil the buildersthe newly elected Cumann na nGaedhealGovernment, to their credit, tried to dosomething to alleviate a severe housingcrisis in the 1920s: they built 6,700 socialhousing units. in the 1930s when FiannaFáil first came to power 38,000 such unitswere built. these houses provided citizenswith comfort, dignity, security and ahealthy environment at a time whenausterity was not having to Pay for water:austerity was not having running water andthere was plenty of austerity about. thisurgent need for basic housing was evidentin 1932 to the De valera led Government; itwas an obvious need in 1922 and evenmore so in 1902.

in 1902 the island of ireland was governed by aParliament based in Westminster. his majesty’sGovernment controlled the largest empire the world hasever seen. the dominions were so expansive that it wassaid the sun never set on the empire and yet this direneed for basic housing could not be met, in its ownbackyard. it took a Fianna Fáil Government governing 26counties, with Dominion status, to tackle the problem.it is estimated that if a similar scheme were to beinitiated today the cost would be in the order of €7billon.

these houses are still in use and are part of the fabric of every town inireland.


tús maith, leath na hoibre tÁ Gearoid Ó Conchubhair tar eis gníomhú mar eagraigh-Dáilceantair agusStiúrthóir-um-thoghcháin í Dail Ceantair; Sligeach, Litroim-thuaidh le haigh namblianta. San am sin bhí toraidh ar fheabhas ag an bpáirtí; go háirithe satoghchán aitúil, thart nuair a thoghadh cúigear iarrthóirí Fhianna Fáil saCeantair tobar an Choire-baile an mhóta (ocht suíocháin): an toradh is fearrroimh de na toghcháin áitiúla.

trí glacadh le seasamh mar Leas-Uachtarán, tá Gearoid Ó Conchubhaircinneadh leanúint ar aghaidh a chuid seirbhísí a thairiscint don pháirtí i rólleathnaithe i gcás ina mbeadh sé ag díriú ar "phleanáil agus cumarsáide".

tá taithí riaracháin ollmhór a fuarthas in eagraíochtaí eile ag an tUas ÓConchubhair agus tá sé faoi láthair ina phost mar rúnaí Coiste ChontaeShligigh chomh maith le bhall de rúnaíocht an “Public ParticipationNetwork.”

Cé go bhfuil fáilte aige le athruithe eagraíochtúla le Fianna Fáil;creideann an comhalta ard Chomhairle go bhfuil gá le níos mó.

tá Gearoid Ó Conchubhair, faoi latháir, mar Stiúrthóir ar anChomhéadain airgeadais Grúpa; iFG-O'Connor.


COUNt Casimir Dunin-markievicz has beendescribed as the “only true bohemian”; onewho never let the truth get in the way of agood story. his birth-place Zywotowka wasn’trenowned for Gaelic football and he wouldhave appreciated the irony in the fact that hissurname adorns the entrance to a Gaa Countyground complicating further the anglo-irishstory with a Ukrainian-Polish-russian twist. ifhis title was regarded as dubious; where betterto have it immortalsied than at a sports groundwhere the odd dubious score would berecorded? this turn-of-events never seemedlikely and it is equally extraordinary that hiswife Constance Goore-booth of Lissadell wouldchair the inaugural meeting of Fianna Fáil inthe La Scala theatre or indeed that a full lengthportrait of Constance would hang in Leinsterhouse; a portrait painted by her husband.

the complicated “irish question” becomesyet more difficult to explain when this couple;the products of Ukrainian and irish estates are“thrown into the mix”. “Casi” as the Countwas known fought on the eastern front duringWW 1 and was awarded the George’s Cross forbravery. badly wounded he recuperated at thefamily estate while Constance took part in the1916 rising and was subsequently sentenced todeath.

history has recorded that madamemarkievicz, as the citizens of Dublin referred toher, was spared the firing squad to become thefirst woman elected to the house of Commonsand one of the first female Cabinet ministersto be appointed in europe.

Casi describes the condition of theirrespective Countries well in a 1917 pamphlet“the world has brought the question of the

self-determination of Nations to the

forefront and has forced one to rememberpeoples who have lost their politicalindependence. thus the independence ofPoland has ceased to be a dream just as thequestion of the full political autonomy, if notthe independence of ireland, has becomeone.”

Nobel aspirationsConstance Gore-booth was born

on the 4thFebruary 1868 inLondon and was

brought up atLissadell house,

County Sligo.She marriedPolish Count

Casimir Duninmarkievicz in

1900.

Self-portrait ofCasimir

markievicz.


there comes a time when it is necessaryto move on and learn from mistakes andat the same time realise that others in asimilar situation would have been nowiser, no more competent and no moreclairvoyant. in the aftermath of thebanking collapse there was much talk of aNational Government but in effect that iswhat the electorate got. Fianna Fáilinitiated reforms which included drasticbut necessary cuts to expenditure andwere thanked for their efforts by beingreduced to twenty seats in 2011. thecoalition that followed carried throughthe rest of the reform package albeit withnone of the positive discrimination for themost vulnerable sections of society.

Fianna Fáil’s long association with thebuilding industry has been demonised bythose who believe they know “where it allwent wrong.” it serves the detractors wellto emphasise the links between the partyand the major forces in irish constructionwith the “Galway tent”, in particular,being held up as the metaphor for baddecision making.

as if “a day at the races” was the routeof all evil. the fact is that the “Galwaytent” fundraising initiative was among themost transparent, undertaken by anypolitical party, on the island of ireland. Noone at the “ceiluradh” was hiding fromanyone and its genesis was grounded inthe support of other hugely importantindustries; horse racing and breeding, forwhich our island is renowned.

those who criticised former Fianna Fáilministers for rubbing shoulders with the

followers of the “sport of kings” woulddo well to remember the grooms andthe labourers; the vets and the lorry-drivers; the caterers and theengineers who earn their livingwithin these intrinsically irishindustries.

Perhaps the value of the workcarried out by a labour intensiveconstruction sector, and FiannaFáil’s support of same, should bereappraised in the light of asevere housing shortage in thegreater Dublin area and perhapsthe value of the skilled jobsprovided by the likes of “horseracing ireland” might bebetter appreciated as we tryto emerge from recession.

Fianna Fáil must take someof the blame for being moreidentified with thedeveloper than thecarpenter more associatedwith the stud owner thanthe groom. So it is time toleave these perceptionswith the politicalmovements where theymore readily belongand look after ourtraditional supporters.

if anyone is due anapology it is these Fianna Fáil voters.

the Galway tent


the very people who would claimto fight for our rights are in factthreatening our democracy. Whenwe dispensed with armed Gardadrivers for our ministers it wasseen as a responsible action thatwould show citizens that theGovernment was serious aboutchange; serious about cuttingexpenditure. this change wasnever questioned as in ireland ournature, our attitude meant that agovernment minister, taoiseach orindeed Uachtarán na heireann

could go about their business withminimal security.

a new breed of protester haschanged all that and in recenttimes we have witnessed thedetention of a minister against herwill and it is to our shame thatireland is the only Country whereUachtarán na heireann has beenpublically insulted. he and hiscitizens have been humiliated;something great about being irishhas been lost; and for what?

People before Propaganda


back row, left

to right: eamon Scanlon, h

ugh Gallagher, Seam

us Kilgallon, raymond Carden, ray m

acSharry,John Sherlock, Seam

us Kilgannon, Jimm

y Devins, G

erry O’Connor, Joe Q

ueenan. albert h

iggins, aidan Colleary,

marti

n baker, mary Coughlan, G

eraldine Feeney, Patsy barry, Deirdre h

ealy-mcG

owan.


O’ConnorGerry

087 6822 365 -:- 071 9166 795

Leas-Uachtrarán Nua

Documents

Gerry O’Connor