Cllr Shane P quits FF
Cavan County Councillor and former Cathaoirleach Shane P O’Reilly has quit Fianna Fail citing “irreconcilable differences” with the national party leadership and direction in which it is moving.
Its understood that the Mullagh-based representative, who serves within the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District and as recently as earlier this week stepped down at first citizen of the county, informed the General Secretary and Whip of Fianna Fail of the decision yesterday evening.
He is now the second County Councillor to leave Fianna Fail in as many years, after now Aontú representative Sarah O'Reilly left back in 2018, also citing irreconcilable differences with the direction in which the party was moving. However, her gripe was more focused on Fianna Fail's support of the Eighth Amendment.
His resignation came with “immediate effect”, and Cllr O’Reilly will now represent the county and his constituents an independent councillor.
In a brief statement issued first to local press this evening, Cllr O’Reilly, who has served on Cavan County Council for the past 16 years, wished to thank his fellow elected colleagues for their “support and friendship” during that time.
“Unfortunately irreconcilable differences with national party leadership and direction is not representative of Cllr O’Reilly's aims, beliefs and ideals and this has led to this course of action,” the statement read.
“Fianna Fáil in Cavan has some of the greatest people in any organisation, but unfortunately for me, I am unable to continue as a representative of Fianna Fail for a raft of personal and national reasons,” concluded Cllr O’Reilly.
He added that he would be making "no further comment" at this time.
Cllr O'Reilly’s resignation is seen as a major blow for the Fianna Fail party which is struggling desperately to encourage grassroots supporters to get behind the proposed programme for government and the coalition partnership alongside once bitter political rivals Fine Gael, and the Greens.
Cllr O’Reilly earned the highest number of first preference votes in the Ballyjamesduff electoral area in the local elections in May 2019.
He is record breaking in that the married dad-of-five has served as Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council twice- 2014 and 2019- and all before reaching the age of 40.
He previously also served on the party’s national executive, and ran but failed to win a seat in the past two Seanad elections.
But at the General Elections in February, after Fianna Fail took a battering in the polls, Cllr O’Reilly was scathing in his criticism of party leader Michael Martin.
He said he had never witnessed "such anger” among party activists when meeting them at their doors canvassing, and blamed a lack of leadership within Fianna Fail to choose to attempt to fight the last election “not on policy but on personalities”.
Cllr O’Reilly went on to state that there was an “extreme disconnect”, and added that party members felt they were being “taken for granted”.
Cllr O’Reilly’s Statement in Full:
Cllr Shane P O'Reilly wishes to announce after informing the General Secretary and Whip of Fianna Fail that he has resigned from the Fianna Fáil party with immediate effect, Cllr O'Reilly will continue to sit on Cavan Co Council as an Independent member. Cllr O’Reilly wishes to thank his colleagues on Cavan Co Council for their support and friendship during his 16 years representing Fianna Fáil on the council and wishes them good for the future, unfortunately irreconcilable differences with national party leadership and direction is not representative of Cllr O’Reillys aims, beliefs and ideals and this has led to this course of action. 'Fianna Fáil in Cavan has some of the greatest people in any organisation, but unfortunately for me, I am unable to continue as a representative of Fianna Fail for a raft of personal and national reasons.
READ MORE: https://www.anglocelt.ie/2020/06/14/reflecting-on-a-surreal-year-in-office/