Speech by An Taoiseach at Galway Centenary Commemoration

A Chairde go léir i bFianna Fáil,

 

Is iontach an phribhléid dom a bheith libh chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar cheád bliain Fhianna Fáil agus céad bliain de pháirtí Fhianna Fáil anseo sa Ghaillimh.

 

Ó na laethanta tosaigh sin, i ndiaidh bhunú an pháirtí sa bhliain míle naoi gcéad fiche sé bhí tionchar agus ról fíorthábhachtach ag Gaillimh mar bhunchloch tacaíochta don pháirtí.

 

Chomh maith leis sin, bhí an Ghaillimh fíorlárnach agus tábhachtach i múnlú agus treorú go leor polasaithe lárnacha náisiúnta a bhí curtha chun cinn ag an bpáirtí.

 

The duty of any political movement is to focus on the challenges of today and the years ahead – but it is important to take time to remember the important ideas, personalities and achievements in your past.

 

In commemorating the decision of Eamon de Valera and a brilliant generation of leaders to found Fianna Fáil we are commemorating one of the most successful political parties in democratic Europe.

 

For any party to not only survive 100 years, but to continue to lead governments is exceptional in any democratic republic.

 

It is a remarkable testimony to the vision of our founders and the commitment of our members and supporters to representing the people of Ireland.

 

Throughout our history we have been used to people making casual assumptions about us and not making the effort to look in detail at why Fianna Fáil grew and so regularly secured the trust of the people.

 

By far the biggest mistake is made when people try to label us as a ‘civil war party’ – claiming that we were founded to keep the Treaty divisions alive. In fact, the exact opposite is true.

 

As speeches, articles and private correspondence all confirm, it was because they wanted to move on from the civil war that de Valera and his colleagues decided to found a new party.

 

De Valera himself wrote about the fact that the people were drifting into a fatalism and a lack of hope that independence could achieve positive things.

 

Lemass, said “There are some who would have us sit by the roadside and debate abstruse points about de jure this and de facto that, but the reality we want is away in the distance — and we cannot get there unless we move.”

 

That is the spirit of Fianna Fáil – finding ways to move forward.

 

And their success in persuading people to switch support and to grow democratic republicanism was dramatic.

 

The fact is that no party which wanted to continue to civil war conflict ever got more than 4% in any election after 1923.

 

As we all know, there is in fact today only one civil war party.

 

Only one party which uses history to divide people.

 

Only one party which sees a conflict between different communities and calls for a reckoning rather than a dialogue.

 

When our party was founded, it had no resources, no organisation and faced the united opposition of the media, employer groups and the government.

 

We grew because we put our faith in a new model of community organisation linked to a positive programme of change.

 

Our leaders borrowed money to pay for stamps to distribute material and travelled the country asking people to play their part.

 

When you look at who joined the party you see a remarkable number of people who had dedicated their youth to the cause of Irish culture and Irish independence.

 

Our leaders carried the great names of our revolution like de Valera, Markiewicz and Pearse – but it was modest men and women in the community who had served and sacrificed without position or reward who provided out backbone.

 

And this was absolutely the case here in Galway – where the party quickly developed a strong base throughout the country.

 

Ranging from academics and teachers to small farmers and labourers, Galway has always made a distinct and important contribution to our party – and in turn Fianna Fáil has helped Galway to develop and become world renowned for the dynamism of its economic, social and cultural life.

 

I gcónaí bhíodh ról fíorthábhachtach ag an nGaillimh i gcur chun cinn agus i múnlú polasaithe náisiúnta i réimsí mar chúrsaí teanga, cúrsaí oideachais agus tacaíochtaí do na feirmeoirí beaga agus gan amhras forbairt réigiúnach sa chontae.

 

Bhí tionchar láidir ag cultúr na Gaillimhe riamh sa tír seo agus freisin bhí tionchar dearfach ag speodar agus fuinneamh na Gaillimhe le blianta fada ar imeachtaí náisiúnta.

 

Sa lá atá inniu ann, faighimid comhlachtaí idirnáisiúnta atá chun tosaigh ar leibhéal domhanda i réimsí na teicneolaíochta agus bitheolaíochtaí i gcathair na Gaillimhe agus in áiteanna eile ar fud na tíre.

 

Ach ag an am céanna bhí an contae seo i gcónaí chun tosaigh i gcur chun cinn polasaithe ag tacú le pobail tuaithe, go nór mór pobail le feirmeacha beaga

 

When you look back at the history of Galway Fianna Fáil’s influence on the party and on government you find it from the very start up to today.

 

The list of important people who have served our party, our country and the people Galway is far too long to mention everyone. So, I will just mention a few of those we should remember as we look back.

 

From the very first days when the party was founded here it attracted people who had already made an exceptional contribution to their community and country.

 

Amongst our first TDs was Dr Seán Tubridy, a gaelgeoir of note but also a community doctor respected everywhere he went.

 

Elected with him in 1927 was Stephen Jordan, who helped to build up what was quickly seen as one of the strongest county organisations in any part of the country.

 

He is also remembered for refereeing the 1932 All-Ireland Camogie Final while also serving as a TD.

 

But in that early generation the figure of Frank Fahy stands out.

 

He was teacher of Latin, Irish and Science, as well as a qualified barrister. Before joining Fianna Fáil, he had been active in the great national movements of the GAA, the Gaelic League and the Volunteers – travelling to Dublin to fight in 1916.

 

He was an important leader during the War of Independence and one of the most active in trying to prevent the drift towards civil war in 1922.

 

Fahy was a remarkable man who had the trust of the party’s national leaders. The first priority of the party in 1932 was to protect democracy and national sovereignty – and de Valera was convinced that this required the Dáil to be chaired by someone who could command respect and would elevate the dignity of the office.

 

He turned to Frank Fahy, who held the office for 19 years – even being re-elected by the Inter-Party majority who understood that he would be hard to match for his integrity and even-handedness.

 

During that time Galway became a stronghold of the democratic republicanism of Fianna Fáil and delivered the highest yes vote in the country for the first constitution in the world adopted in a free referendum.

 

Galway Fianna Fáil’s first member of cabinet took more time.

 

Gerald, or Gerry, Bartley had also been a Volunteer and a leader in the War of Independence.

 

He had been a TD for 27 years when Lemass chose him to be in his government. As we all know, Lemass was a man in a hurry, who demanded that Ministers be on top of their jobs and be innovative.

 

As Minister for the Gaeltacht Bartley was focused on practical help for people. He pushed forward plans to support businesses setting up in the Gaeltacht and supported investment in peripheral communities.

 

In fact, he was once criticised in the Dáil for his regular visits to the islands. Bartley was then moved to Defence at a time when the government had taken the decision to participate in UN peacekeeping missions for the first time.

 

Lemass called this one of the most important decisions of his time as Taoiseach and Bartley was trusted by him to handle the management of a deployment which stretched the army to its limits.

 

When he retired in 1965 it marked a break with the founding generation – but those who followed made a huge contribution to the modernisation and development of Galway and the country as a whole.

 

I will just mention a few colleagues from more recent years.

 

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn’s appointment to cabinet was a genuinely historical moment. As the first woman since 1922 to serve in government, she was a trailblazer.

 

But what she is remembered for is her record in office.

 

A reforming minister, I remember well as a young backbencher admiring the skill with which she managed the difficult Justice portfolio.

 

Her reform of the laws criminalising homosexuality was done with great sensitivity and determination – fighting back attempts by the then opposition to retain some discrimination.

 

As a columnist for the Irish Times, she had the unenviable responsibility of giving a different perspective in a forum never known for being friendly to our party.

 

It was of course in Europe that she completed her service – representing our party’s fundamental value of believing in strong, rules-bound cooperation between the nations of Europe.

 

Her reform of research and innovation policy was critical in helping universities like the University of Galway to develop world-class programmes. It remains the core blueprint for developing Europe as a centre for innovative ideas and new industries.

 

We thank Máire for all of her work.

 

I also want to acknowledge the career and work of Eamon O’ Cuiv during his long service as a councillor, Deputy and Minister.

 

Amongst the many great things Eamon achieved I think the most important was his work to bring a new energy to supporting rural and isolated communities.

 

His CLÁR programme was a powerful demonstration of how much can be achieved when you have a minister bringing together state agencies and communities to plan and invest in the future.

 

He spent countless evenings in local halls personally pushing people to think about what would help their community. The focus and drive he achieved has never been matched.

 

Former Ministerial colleague Frank Fahy also served as Minister for Marine and Natural Resources and also as Minister of State in Education, Enterprise, Justice, Health and Tourism.

 

Even in retirement from politics, Frank plays an active part in improving Galway and also helping local people to get involved in politics.

 

Your current TD John Connolly is truly dedicated to serving the people of Galway West. John’s experience as an educator and his years of a councillor has proved to be a huge asset to us in Dáil Eireann. He is our spokesperson on Further and Higher Education.

 

John advocates on many issues that are important to Galway – housing, transport infrastructure, jobs and in particular getting the ring road done so that Galway can continue to thrive.

 

All of our Galway representatives through the years have been at the centre of creating and protecting Fianna Fáil’s tradition of serving the people and finding new ways forward.

 

There are a lot of people who try to never acknowledge what has been achieved in our country over the past 100 years.

 

We absolutely have many problems to overcome and new challenges to face – but the simple fact is that we have made enormous strides forward because of the decisions taken by Fianna Fáil and it programme of social and economic development.

 

We can see that here in Galway. Over 100,000 more people call Galway home than did so a century ago and there are over 50,000 more jobs.

 

Improvements in health, living standards and life expectancy have meant that Galway is now recognised as one of the most dynamic places in Europe.

 

We have every right to be proud of our contribution to this – and just as importantly we have a duty to be true this wonderful tradition and the spirit of our republican party.

 

Once again, thank you for your invitation to be here and thank you for everything you do for your community, your party and our country.