MINISTER FOR Justice Dermot Ahern headed a Fianna Fáil delegation to Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, last Monday night for the establishment of the party's first non-university unit - known as a "forum" rather than "cumann" or branch - in Northern Ireland.
The Minister told The Irish Times: "It clearly shows that there is a middle ground of support in the North from people who are not necessarily supporters of the mainstream political parties."
There were 35 people in attendance at the "forum", which he said was "not strictly a cumann" although the group would be invited to send delegates and to speak at the Fianna Fáil ardfheis in February 2009.
Highlighting the participation of local people, he continued: "Whatever organising we do has to be exclusively, organically grown from the North. It can't be orchestrated from outside."
The meeting at the Cross Square Hotel was also addressed by former ceann comhairle of the Dáil and current TD for Cavan-Monaghan Dr Rory O'Hanlon, who said: "The establishment of the Fianna Fáil forum in Crossmaglen is an historic occasion for the party and for South Armagh."
Other speakers were parliamentary party chairman Séamus Kirk TD and Fianna Fáil general secretary Seán Dorgan.
The group elected an officer-panel chaired by Martin McAllister of Crossmaglen. Former leading Irish showjumping exponent James Kernan, also from the town, is vice-chairman.
Dr O'Hanlon said: "The question of contesting elections has not arisen at this stage and this will be a matter for the national executive to consider at a later stage."
The decision comes after a year of negotiations between party representatives and people from the locality. Fianna Fáil has already established the William Drennan Cumann in Queen's University, Belfast, and the Watty Graham Cumann in UU Magee, Derry.
Eamon de Valera founded Fianna Fáil in March 1926, but it was not until December 7th last year that the party was registered in Northern Ireland by the UK Electoral Commission.