Fianna Fáil sets up Northern unit

Fianna Fáil has established a unit of the party in south Armagh, it was announced today.

The Fianna Fáil forum in Crossmaglen is the first non-university group launched with links to the party in the North.

Its inaugural meeting this week was addressed by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, parliamentary party chairman Seamus Kirk and party secretary general Sean Dorgan.

Cavan/Monaghan TD Dr Rory O’Hanlon, vice-chair of a group set up to look at the possibility of the party spreading into the north, described the gathering as historic.

“The establishment of the Fianna Fáil Forum in Crossmaglen is an historic occasion for the party and for South Armagh.”

Last year Taoiseach Bertie Ahern asked the party organisation to look at the prospect of expanding into the North.

The Taoiseach later announced the establishment of a working group, chaired by Dermot Ahern and vice-chaired by Dr O’Hanlon.

Groups were formed at Magee University in Derry and Queen’s University Belfast.

But the forum in south Armagh is the first non-university gathering.

A spokesman for the party said it was set up at the request of locals who believed it would be in the interests of the community to have a Fianna Fáil unit established in the area.

Policing, economic issues and the development of a cross-border tourism initiative in South Armagh, Monaghan and Louth were discussed at the meeting, which was attended by around 30 people.

It is expected that further forums will be set up across the North.