A Thaoisigh, a hAirí agus a hAirí Stáit, a Theachtaí Dála, a Sheanadóirí, Feisirí Pharlaiminte na hEorpa, a chomhairleoirí, baill den Ard‑Chomhairle, a chairde go léir,

Is mise Shane Moynihan, agus is mór an onóir dom é a bheith i mo Chathaoirleach ar Choiste Céad Bliain de chuid Fhianna Fáil. Tá an-áthas orm fáilte ó chroí a chur romhaibh ar fad agus sibh inár dteannta anocht le haghaidh seoladh oifigiúil Chláir Chomórtha Céad Bliain Fhianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach. Is cloch mhíle ar leith í an bhliain seo i scéal an Pháirtí, agus tá sé tábhachtach go ndéanfaimid cuimhne air – ach, ag an am céanna, go dtabharfaimid aghaidh ar an gcéad chéad bliain eile atá amach romhainn.

My name is Shane Moynihan, and I am honoured to be Chairperson of the Centenary Committee. It gives me great pleasure to extend a heartfelt welcome to you for the official launch of Fianna Fáil’s Centenary Programme. This year marks an important milestone in the story of our Republican Party, and it is essential that we honour it – while at the same time looking to the next hundred years. 

Is áit thar a bheith oiriúnach don ócáid seo é Seomra na bPiléar anseo sa Rotunda. Is i ndiaidh vóta a tharla anseo sa bhliain 1926 a bheartaigh de Valera agus a chomhghleacaithe treo nua a leagan amach agus gluaiseacht nua a bhunú. Ní fada uainn suíomh Amharclann La Scala, áit ar tionóladh cruinniú bunaithe an Pháirtí i mí Bealtaine na bliana sin. Is anseo sa Rotunda a tionóladh an chéad Ard‑Fheis de chuid Fhianna Fáil sa bhliain sin freisin. Agus is sa seomra seo a luigh Constance Markiewicz – duine de bhunaitheoirí Fhianna Fáil – ar shéipéal in 1927.

The Pillar Room here in the Rotunda is a most fitting setting. It was in the aftermath of a vote that took place in the Rotunda in 1926 that de Valera and a group of colleagues resolved to chart a new course and set up a new political movement. Only a short distance from here stood the La Scala Theatre, the venue of the founding meeting of our Party in May of that year. It was also here in the Rotunda that the first Fianna Fáil Ard‑Fheis took place, in November. And it was in this very room that Constance Markiewicz – one of the founding figures of Fianna Fáil – lay in state in 1927.

Is é téama an Chláir Chomórtha seo ná “Ár n‑Oidhreacht. Ár dTodhchaí.” Ráiteas é seo a léiríonn an cur chuige atá againn mar ghluaiseacht náisiúnta pholaitiúil. 

The theme of this year’s Commemoration Programme is “Ár n‑Oidhreacht. Ár dTodhchaí. Our Heritage. Our Future.” It speaks to our identity as a national movement, grounded in republicanism, patriotism and a singular focus on the wellbeing of Ireland and her people.

Our story, as one of Europe’s most enduring and successful democratic political parties, is one of honouring our origins while recognising that the future is not something that simply unfolds. It is something that can be shaped, built, and renewed.

When de Valera, Lemass, Markiewicz, and others chose to establish a new political movement, their ambition was to shape that future for Ireland – to ensure the republican ideals that inspired them could be realised in a practical and meaningful way for the people of this country. As Boland put it – ‘a vehicle to render public service to the nation’. Those same republican values continue to guide each of us today as we work to deliver a vision for Ireland that is worthy of their legacy and confident in our future.

Agus is ceart agus is cóir go mbeidh na luachanna poblachtánach sin le sonrú agus muid ag comóradh bhunú an Pháirtí. Ní hamháin go mbeimid ag déanamh comórtha ar na himeachtaí a tharla in 1926, ach go ndéanfaimid machnamh ar an scéal ó shin – agus ar an scéal atá fós le scríobh.

Central to that reflection is this simple fact: our party is, and always has been, a grassroots movement. In the same spirit that saw Lemass, Boland and others travel to communities all across the country, whether it be Rosnakill in Donegal, or Kiskeam in Cork; our members today are embedded in their localities – active, engaged, and committed.

And that is the energy that will drive this centenary year. A few weeks ago, Laois Fianna Fáil hosted hundreds at a dinner celebrating their contribution to the representation of the people of Laois. In Kerry, the Party’s story is being shared in libraries across the county. Events are planned in the coming weeks, including here in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Waterford, Carlow and Westmeath. From Cork to Donegal, from Dublin to Mayo, the Fianna Fáil family is coming together – remembering and honouring our heritage and looking to the future. 

As part of our Centenary commemorations, Fianna Fáil will also present a special Centenary Medallion to members who have reached the remarkable milestone of 100 years of age and beyond. This small but meaningful gesture recognises a lifetime of experience, service and connection to our Party and country. We invite members to let us know of any centenarians within their cumainn or communities so that we can appropriately honour and celebrate them as part of our programme.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our Comhairlí Dáilcheantair agus Ceantair, our Cumainn, Ógra Fhianna Fáil, our Women’s Network, and all of our party networks and groups for organising the dinners, social evenings, recruitment activities, exhibitions, masses, and book launches taking place across the country. Is gluaiseacht phobail i gcónaí a bhí i bhFianna Fáil – agus beidh sé sin le sonrú go soiléir i mbliana.

Is mór an tionchar a bhí agus atá ag Fianna Fáil ar fhorbairt agus ar dhul chun cinn na tíre ó thaobh cúrsaí sóisialta, eacnamaíochta, polaitíúla agus cultúrtha de. Whether it be the enduring resilience of Bunreacht na hÉireann, forging peace on this island, the consistent expansion of educational opportunity, cothú agus cosaint ár dteanga, a strong voice in Europe and the world, or developing a modern economy – our party has always sought to improve the lives of families and communities. 

We will explore this contribution in a series of podcasts and panel discussions, “100 Bliain”, the first of which will be recorded here this evening and then subsequent events will be held across the country.

In addition, we will engage with the academic community to foster a broad conversation on Fianna Fáil’s overall contribution to Ireland – assessing the story and achievements of one of the world’s most successful and consistently democratic political parties.

Fianna Fáil’s success has always been rooted in the commitment of our members – women and men of all ages, of all backgrounds, in all places. Our history reminds us that our strength has always come from our people. Agus ní féidir dearmad a dhéanamh air sin riamh. As part of our programme, we will launch an Oral History Project to record the experiences, stories and memories of our members around the country – to honour their legacy and to make it available to future generations. Ógra Fianna Fáil will play a central role in delivering this project. 

Tá baill Fhianna Fáil fite fuaite i measc pobail ar fud na tíre. Our members are woven into the fabric of parishes, towns and cities – listening, supporting, organising and leading. This local presence ensures that our politics begins where it should: with real people and real challenges. It is only fitting that we use our Centenary Year to demonstrate that commitment. We will invite all Party Units to take part in Community Action Days in their areas – practical demonstrations of service to the places we are proud to call home.

Is mór an méid atá tugtha ag Baill Oireachtais Fhianna Fáil do shaol parlaiminte na tíre, mar aon leis an ról céanna fíorthábhachtach atá ag ár bhFeisirí Parlaiminte Eorpacha agus ár gcomhairleoirí áitiúla. The representation of our communities has always been at the core of our Party. We will honour the contributions of these representatives, TDs, Senators, MEPs and Councillors – past and present – at events here in Dublin and across the country.

Is ceart agus is cóir go dtionólfar Ard‑Fheis an Pháirtí ar an dáta céanna ar a tionóladh an Chéad Chruinniú Bunaithe. This year’s Ard‑Fheis will be the focal point of our centenary celebrations nationally. It will celebrate our achievements, showcase our history, and provide a platform for the future. As was the case in 1926, we will look to the next hundred years with confidence and purpose.

Before I conclude, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to my fellow members of the Centenary Committee. Since November, we have been working to design and deliver a programme that is fitting, appropriate and outward‑looking. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil freisin le Fintan Phelan, Amy Reynolds agus Foireann HQ, i dteannta le Foireann Preasa agus Cumarsáide an Pháirtí.

Ar aghaidh linn, a chairde. 

Déanfaimis machnamh ar ár n‑oidhreacht.

Tabharfaimid aghaidh ar an todhchaí.

Agus, chun tús ceart a chur leis an gClár Comórtha, iarrfaidh mé ar an Taoiseach agus Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil, Micheál Martin, labhairt linn.