1998\1999 year has been the most successful in the history of the Con Colbert Cumann (CCC).

After a slow start our membership reached 120 by the end of the year, to reaffirm out position as the largest political party on Campus.

We kicked of the year with a number of our members attending the National youth Conference in Killarney. This event saw one of the Cumann’s founding members Colm Leahy elected to the National Executive of Ográ Fianna Fáil.

Our first event on campus was the visit of Martin Mansergh, Special Adviser to Bertie Ahern on Northern Ireland. A very successful hot whiskey night, which, was held to coincide with SoUL week, and Dr. Mansergh’s visit was enjoyed by all political parties…we had begun “building bridges”. This great success will be happening again sometime in the early weeks of Semester one so keep an eye out for the free whiskey posters! Dr Mansergh showed us all why he is one of An Taoiseach’s most influential advisors and also one of the main people behind the Good Friday agreement. The hot whiskey that flowed afterwards was enjoyed by all including some of our opposition who came to see how a real political party operates. Our Christmas party was held in O’Riardas and was enjoyed by all present.

The second semester started with a visit to Dublin we took on our colleagues of the Kevin Barry Cumann (KBC) of UCD in a friendly challenge. The motion of which was “Great men have great faults and that this house would forgive Charles Haughey” the CCC had to oppose this motion. Despite some innovative arguments lost the debate due to a blatantly hometown decision by the adjudicator Mr Charlie McConlogue Education Officer of UCD students’ Union and former Chairperson of the KBC. From there we progressed to the Dáil where Minister of State Willie O’Dea TD received us.

In early March we ventured to Clonmel for a Munster Ográ Consultative Meeting. At that meeting it was decided to postpone some voting members onto the National Executive until the next meeting to be held in the University of Limerick, and hosted by the CCC, this voting will happen in late October or early November.

The highlight of the political year in UL was the Fianna Fáil organised “Irish independent Celebrity Debate”. This event saw the Jean Monet theatre packed by over 330 spectators to hear Don O’Leary Sinn Féin, Brian Heading SDLP, and Eamon O’Cuiv TD Fianna Fáil, battle it out against Stephen King of the UUP, Joe Higgins TD socialist party and Jim English UDP. The motion that “I can see a united Ireland before the end of my life time” proved to be a very emotive one indeed.

Representatives from South Tipp and UCC Ográ joined us, the speakers, and the sponsors, in Jury’s hotel afterwards for what was a memorable celebration of all the things that Ográ stand for. Our many thanks to the Irish Independent, and all our sponsors for without them the debate would not have happened. A very special word of thanks to Dorothy Cantrell of the Irish Peace Institute and Maol-Mhuire Tynan of the Irish Times for their invaluable help and advice.

Other memorable activities during the year included a trip to the Ard Fheis and visits by guest speakers, including Tony McKenna MCC, Vice-President of the European Union’s Committee of the Regions. We also had a visit from Uachtaráin Fianna Fáil, An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, in late April.

This summer saw the cumann take on two students on the summer jobs schemes, so with their work over the summer, next term is sure going to be promising.

Next year promises to be bigger and better so come on and get involved in what is the biggest best and most active Political Party in UL.

Irish Independent Celebrity Debate

The comment made by an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD: 'I can see a United Ireland before the end of my lifetime' was the motion that these two teams would come to punches over, so much for a cessation of violence!

Early in the first half the ref. had a tough job having to caution some spectators who were having trouble with King's style of play. King pointed out that it was with great sadness that he returned to Limerick having been driven here the last time by the late Garda Gerry McCabe. King quite bluntly pointed out to O' Leary (SF), whose marking of his man left a lot to be desired, that the IRA "Could not defend Rosemary Nelson with its 100 tonnes of illegal weapons. It cannot defend anyone with Semtex".

Brian Heading (SDLP) gave a heart warming speech and it was very well received. The feeling among the crowd, who were now despising the Sinn Féin stance on everything, was that the SDLP, were the party of compromise. In order to achieve anything there must be give and take instead of the traditional take, take and more take. Joe Higgins (Socialist Party), who talked more about social inclusion than Northern Ireland, the poor man needed a substitute badly, but unfortunately in this game we can except no substitutes. The player manager for the Socialist Party in Ireland must have had his facts mixed up because he stood up as an opposition player and claimed to be a proposition player.

Eamon O' Cuiv (FF) was the last speaker of the Proposition to propose the motion. His remarks on the Commonwealth were again raised and he clarified what was said previously in the national media. He said that he would have "no problems about the Republic of Ireland joining the Commonwealth if it meant a united Ireland". He also told both Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionist Party, through the speakers, that they both must "Cop on", and realise that they need to sit down and talk instead of standing up and walking out! DeV's grandson was slowly becoming the favourite to clench the coveted title of man of the match.

The Final speaker was Jim English (UDP). English gave the most sincere, and the most genuine debate of all the speakers present. His speech came from the heart and it was evident. He told the crowd of over three hundred that he was not a professional Politician, and the crowd would have to excuse his poor debating skills. It was his only lie during the debate. The man from Tigers Bay touched the hearts of everyone present, with the words of a poem he recalled. This amateur player, was without doubt the most professional on the pitch, because of his class and fancy footwork, he was declared by the panel the unanimous man of the match.

After the debate, a question and answers session was initiated. The UL Socialist party dominated the proceedings by planting members throughout the audience, to ask questions to their beloved comrade JOE! The audience really were on the edge of their seats in a kind of fly by the seat of your pants activity that evolved at the questions and answers, with King and O'Leary trying to shout each other down, over the referee's head. I'm sure that Seamus Martin, felt a little like Hugh Dallas in the Rangers - Celtic match.

Before I finish the organisers wish to thank the Sponors & Supporters: Irish Independent, McEilligots Coaches, O' Mahony's Bookshop, The University Club, UL Ents Crew, ULSU. A special word of thanks to Prof. Roger Downer, UL President, and Dorothy Cantrell of the Irish Peace Institute without whose help and advice the debate would not have taken place. I'll finish with the words of the poem Jim English recalled during his heartfelt debate, "My Daddy Died for Ireland, why couldn't he have lived for me".

Hot Whiskey Night

Martin Mansergh, and Hot Whiskey, the combination could not have been more attractive. SoUL Week in the University of Limerick and Irelands foremost authority on Northern Ireland has graced the Con Colbert Cumann of UL with a visit.

The talk was organised as part of the Con Colbert Cumann's contribution to the SoUL Fund for Charities. A principal designer of the Good Friday Agreement speaking in the University of Limerick, to a packed audience of Students, Staff, and visitors, in the Charles Parsons Lecture Hall.

Dr. Mansergh talked about the state of economy, social reform and, about the one reason that everyone came to hear him, Northern Ireland.

After a very informative talk we retired for coffee, tea, and most of all whiskey. Many thanks are due to a lot of people for their help in organising this night. Dr. Martin Mansergh for coming to Limerick and giving a great talk, Alan Ryder for keeping the whiskey flowing, The Stables Club, Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, The Railway Hotel, Noel Gleeson, Olga Lawlor Entertainer, and Muiris O’ Sullivan Helping Hand!

Dáil Trip 1999

Minister of State, Willie O'Dea.

Dáil Trip 1999

Wednesday Semester Two, and a bus load of Con Colbert Cumann members head for the Capitol. There mission to Destroy the Kevin Barry Cumann and have an afternoon Drink with Minister for Youth Affairs, Willie O’ Dea.

We ventured to UCD for a Showdown with the Kevin Barry Cumann, in the forms of a debate. ‘Great Men have great Faults and this House would Forgive Charlie Haughey’. We were needless to say beaten by the KBC, the fact that the judge was from the UCD SU, and a former chairperson of the KBC, did not help our cause. Our loss was short-lived, as we accompanied them for early afternoon drinks during one of their rag week events. After consumption of some beverages, we travelled onto the Dáil where we were kindly net by Minister of State Willie O’Dea, and treated to more beverages.

We enjoyed the company of the Minister for over two hours, before leaving for home.

Our thanks to Minister Willie O’Dea for his kind hospitality during the day.

Ogra Concultative

The Con Colbert Cumann attended, a Munster Ogra Consultative, in Clonmel, on Sunday 28th March.

The purpose of the meeting was to keep all Orga Cumainn in Munster up to date on events at national level, and also to elect a member to the national youth committee and a third level representative for the Munster area.

The next Ogra Consultative was scheduled for October in the University of Limerick.

See you there!