FF to hold talks in Mayo on new branches

Fianna Fáil has initiated a series of meetings in Mayo today in the wake of its disbandment of the Micheál Ó Móráin cumann…

Fianna Fáil has initiated a series of meetings in Mayo today in the wake of its disbandment of the Micheál Ó Móráin cumann.

The meetings are expected to discuss a report prepared by Fianna Fáil headquarters on party reorganisation within the constituency.

It is expected that this could involve the establishment of one to two new cumainn in Castlebar, Co Mayo, to replace the Micheál Ó Móráin cumann.

Fianna Fáil national secretary Seán Dorgan and Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey will hold meetings in several venues, starting with officers of the comhairle Dáil ceanntair in Knock at 2pm.

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Meetings will also be held with Fianna Fáil county and town councillors and with comhairle ceanntair or area councils. There was some confusion among some party members yesterday about the times and venues and several members said this represented a deliberate "divide-and-rule" strategy.

The Micheál Ó Móráin cumann is still awaiting a response from party headquarters after its request that senior party officials travel to Castlebar to address the cumann in person.

The cumann has deferred legal action, pending a response, and chairman John Browne said he had only received an acknowledgment of his letter, sent last week, from Mr Dorgan's secretary yesterday.

Fianna Fáil headquarters says the cumann was disbanded because of its continued support for Independent TD Beverley Flynn who was expelled from the party last year after her failed Supreme Court appeal over the RTÉ libel case.

Fianna Fáil has reiterated that the Micheál Ó Móráin cumann is of "no concern" to it as it "no longer exists".

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins is the former western and marine correspondent of The Irish Times