Offaly Fianna Fail members told 'to put chests out' ahead of centenary celebrations

DEPUTY Tony McCormack has told local Fianna Fáil members to “put your chests out” as the party lines up a series of festivities to mark its centenary in Offaly.

The Fianna Fáil organisation in Offaly was founded in 1926, following the party’s establishment in May of that year. It became the largest party in the state at the 1932 general election, a position it retained after Deputy McCormack was among its 48 TDs elected to the 34th Dáil in 2024.

The Tullamore native was speaking at the Offaly Comhairle Dáil Ceantar Annual General Meeting, held in front of a large gathering at the Bridge House Hotel last Thursday evening, February 26.

“We quickly became the largest party in Ireland following our foundation in 1926 and we’re the largest 100 years later - that’s something to be proud of,” said Deputy McCormack, as he acclaimed the contribution of Fianna Fáil to the State.

“So I would say to Fianna Fáil members to put your chests out as we mark our centenary in Offaly this year,” he added, to warm applause.

Deputy McCormack also took questions from the floor as a part of a healthy debate with members, and vowed to bring issues back to Leinster House.

Cllr Peter Ormond, speaking on behalf of himself and the other six Fianna Fáil councillors in Offaly - Cllrs Audrey Hennessy-Kennedy, Shane Murray, Ollie Bryant, Declan Harvey, Frank Moran and Claire Murray - gave a rundown on the work of the council over the previous 12 months and, in keeping with the centenary theme, distributed party memorabilia which he had acquired, including an election registrar from the 1940s.

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On the night, Ronan Feighery was returned as chair of the local organisation, his second year in the position. He noted how he had attended 67 formal events and meetings over the course of his first year in the role, stressing how he felt the need to get out around the county and connect with the party membership on the ground.

‘The structures of Offaly Fianna Fáil have galvanised over the last year and now we’re ready to push forward,” he said.

“The various cumanns have all met at this stage, with some of them amalgamating, so the structure of Offaly Fianna Fáil is sound going into the next elections. We have a solid team in place and the three municipal districts are well represented,” he said, referencing the executive committee around him.

He added: “This being the centenary year, we have a race night planned in Tullamore, followed by a breakfast morning, which a number of our leading representatives will attend, and a golf classic, with details to follow on each of these events.

“The centrepiece of the centenary celebrations in Offaly will be a banquet at the back end of the year.”

The Offaly Fianna Fáil Offaly Comhairle Dáil Ceantar Committee elected for 2026-27 is as follows - Chairperson: Ronan Feighery; Vice-Chairperson: PJ Lynam; Secretary: Cathal Tyrrell, Treasurer: Dinny Kearney, Assistant Treasurer: Tony Flanagan, Women’s Officer: Karen Malone, PRO: Pat Nolan, Director of Elections: Peter Waters, Nominee to Ard Comhairle: Miriam O’Callaghan.

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