Dev airport proposal fails to take off

IN Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, comely maidens campaigning for votes, the recognition of gay couples and the liberalisation of licensing laws - you’d wonder what Dev would have made of the Ógra Fianna Fáil conference?

Of course, Eamon de Valera died in 1975, the same year the Fianna Fáil youth wing was established. While he is still held in high regard by the next generation of the party he originally founded, proposals to rename Shannon airport in his honour were surprisingly shot down by delegates.

Despite the former Taoiseach and president representing Co Clare as a TD for over 40 years, it was actually a Clare man who led the charge against the proposal. Clare Ógra chairman Darragh McAllister said a terminal or wing of Shannon airport should be renamed instead to not take away from the well established brand.

Defending his proposition on ceremonial and sentimental grounds, Darren Treacy from Tipperary North argued that de Valera had done a lot for the country, yet had not got the same recognition as Daniel O’Connell, Michael Collins or Arthur Griffith.

Although Dev’s Constitution recognised the family as the fundamental unit of society, Ógra Fianna Fáil passed a motion calling for the creation of a civil partnership to grant rights to same-sex couples and encourage stability in society.

Standing by the Constitution, Shane Toomey, from Donogh O’Malley Cumann in University College Cork, said he was concerned about the effects of any changes on traditional marriage and a decision should not be taken lightly.

“Marriage itself could be derogated to being a lifestyle choice. Marriage provides a service to society,” he argued. Gay couples had no legal protections and the recognition of these couples was entirely necessary, without overriding the Constitution, according to Séin Ó Muineacháin from Cumann Wolfe Tone in Trinity College Dublin.

“This is about republicanism. This is about embracing all citizens equally. This is about Fianna Fáil at its best.”

A call for liberalisation of the licensing laws in line with those of continental Europe was also passed.

The healthy number of delegates listening to Education Minister Mary Hanafin heard about what their futures may hold. Recalling her attendance at the first Ógra conference in 1975, the minister said a photograph appeared in the papers the following day of three delegates, two from Trinity College and a schoolgirl, all queuing to speak at the podium.

“All three were in the newspapers again today - the first is a newly appointed High Court Judge (Michael Hannah), the second is the Tánaiste (Mary Harney) and the third is the Minister for Education (Mary Hanafin). So stick around lads, you’d never know where you might turn up,” she said.

Certainly a young man to watch for the future is the impressive Michael Shovlin from Donegal - the winner of the keenly contested election for leas-cathaoirleach of Ógra Fianna Fáil.

The approach roads to the Slieve Russell Hotel in Co Cavan were lined with posters erected by his tough competitor, Joe Morgan, featuring Royston Bradyesque slogans of “Vision” and “Real Results”.

But Mr Shovlin opted for “Give Shovlin a Dig Out” T-shirts sported by about 20 of his supporters, which a delegate from the midlands felt would have an impact. “It helps that some of the girls in the T-shirts are cute,” he said.