TAOISEACH Brian Cowen’s decision to abandon the annual Fianna Fáil Galway races tent fundraiser has got a mixed reaction in the western capital.
Former Fianna Fáil senator and county councillor Nioclas Ó Conchubhair, who criticised the “elitist” nature of the tent in a report to former taoiseach Bertie Ahern three years ago, said yesterday he was “delighted” at the decision.
However, Galway racecourse manager John Moloney said he was “sorry to see it go”, but confirmed that he had received a number of inquiries yesterday morning from replacement customers – none of whom has as yet identified themselves as political parties.
Mr Ó Conchubhair, a highly-respected member of Fianna Fáil in Galway West, chaired a working group set up by the constituency organisation four years ago to review aspects of the party’s organisation.
The report, presented to Mr Ahern in Salthill in June 2005, called for a review of the corporate tent at the Galway races because large sections of the organisation in Galway West believed it created “a sense of elitism and isolates many people”.
The report recommended that the organisation should look at ways to make it more open and inclusive, and said Fianna Fáil should urgently review how its national organisation was performing.
Mr Ó Conchubhair said he welcomed the fact that some of these recommendations had already been taken on board during Mr Ahern’s tenure as party leader, and said he believed Mr Cowen would “bring the party back” to its roots.
Fianna Fáil Galway West TD Frank Fahey also welcomed the decision, as did chairman of the constituency organisation John Joe Gallagher.
Mr Moloney said the summer Galway race festival had enjoyed a 15-year relationship with Fianna Fáil as customer. However, there would be other customers and the event would continue.