Ógra Fianna Fáil

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Ógra Fianna Fáil is the youth wing of Fianna Fáil, the largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. Within Fianna Fáil it is simply called Ógra (Irish for youth). It was founded in 1975 by party leader Jack Lynch under the guidance of the then Party General Secretary, Séamus Brennan. It is the largest youth political organisation on the island of Ireland with nearly 7000 members island - wide. In the Republic, it is active in every major Third Level Institute and in every Dáil constituency. It has begun recruiting members in Northern Ireland, beginning on 25 September 2007 in Derry at Magee College of the University of Ulster, and proceeding to Queens University, Belfast the following day.

Organisation

Ógra is a full member of the Senior Party, Fianna Fáil. The National Leadership of Ógra is invested the membership of the National Youth Committee, which is elected every year at the National Youth Conference. Six members of the Youth Committee are on the Árd Comhairle (governing body) of Fianna Fáil. These are the Leas-Cathaoirleach, one representative from Third Level institutions, and one from each of the four European Parliament constituencies in the Republic of Ireland. There are sixteen further members of the Youth Committee: three from each Euro constituency and four from Third Level.

Leas Cathaoirleach

The Leas Cathaoirleach ("vice-chairperson") is the highest elected position of Ógra Fianna Fáil. The Leas Cathaoirleach is elected at the National Youth Conference every year. While the Cathaoirleach ("chairperson") of Ógra is always a member of the parliamentary party, this is usually an honorary position and it is the Leas Cathaoirleach who acts as the main spokesperson and representative of Ógra Fianna Fáil. Former Ógra Leas Cathaoirligh include: