Eoin Neylon and Jack Eustace are the new respective heads of Ógra Fianna Fáil and Labour Youth. The newly-elected Ógra Fianna Fáil president and Labour Youth chair were formally appointed yesterday at the youth wings’ annual conferences.
Neylon, a 26-year-old Clare-based engineer and member of the Fianna Fáil national executive, defeated Kildare councillor Naoise Ó Cearúil for the position at Ógra’s national conference, held this weekend in Clane, Co. Kildare. Increased recruitment, expansion into Northern Ireland and a stronger youth wing identity were among the priorities listed in his election manifesto.
The ballots have now been counted and the new Ógra Uachtaráin is @eoinneylon #Ogra14 pic.twitter.com/5eJYGIPwK0
— Ógra Fianna Fáil (@OgraFiannaFail) November 8, 2014
The other most senior positions on the youth wing’s central officer board were filled by Ian Woods, policy and campaigns officer; Jessica Ní Mhaoláin, membership and recruitment officer; Mark Holt, third-level organiser; and Barry Gillian, events director. Along with Neylon, they will now sit as Ógra representatives on Fianna Fáil’s national executive, the party’s senior governing body.
Trinity students Feidhlim Mac Róibín and Briege Mac Oscar, as well as NUIG alumnus Darren Hughes and Trinity alumni David Griffin and James Doyle, were among the others elected to the youth wing’s central officer board.
Eustace, a 22-year-old UCD student, had been Labour Youth’s policy and education officer before running uncontested for the position of chair at Labour Youth’s national conference in Galway City this weekend. His election priorities included membership diversification, increased lobbying efforts and a strengthening of internal Labour Youth democracy.
@JackAEustace taking over as chair #LY14 pic.twitter.com/hS4zxkeyCe
— Rachel Walsh (@rachelewalsh_) November 9, 2014
He is joined on the youth wing’s national executive by Ciara Galvin, secretary; Jay Deegan, campaigns officer; Ellen Murphy, membership and development officer; Luke Field, education and policy officer; Rachel Walsh, communications officer, and Kerri Ryan, international officer.
Correction: An earlier version of this article had incorrectly stated that Darren Hughes is a Trinity alumnus.
