![\"Minister](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/002460ed-614.jpg\"\/)
\nMinister for Social Protection Dara Calleary paid tribute to his party leader at the Ard Fheis<\/p>\n
At the Fianna F\u00e1il Ard Fheis in 2013, an expert in British politics implied the party needed a change in leader if it were to ever recover from its 2011 Election drubbing.<\/p>\n
13 years later, Miche\u00e1l Martin is still there \u2013 and going nowhere.<\/p>\n
The son of a boxer has been on the ropes at various stages over the last nine months, but he is yet to fall to the canvas and for now, is content to stay in the ring.<\/p>\n
The Fianna F\u00e1il leader took a slightly unusual approach to his keynote address last night, telling the party faithful that he would not use his speech to attack other political parties or to “win a few extra headlines with promises for the next Budget”.<\/p>\n
While party strategists might have been trying to make the Cork man appear above the usual political squabbling seen in the D\u00e1il, some delegates were expecting more fire if the Taoiseach were hoping to still be leader at the party’s next Ard Fheis.<\/p>\n
“Miche\u00e1l\u2019s speech was actually better last night, lots of grassroots were looking for a bit more passion,” said one backbench TD.<\/p>\n
“It wasn\u2019t a standing ovation because I sat down,” grumbled one councillor.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ve never been at a larger wake. We all know the divorce is coming,” surmised one well-connected ordinary member.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the Taoiseach argue that he made substantive points \u2013 including a commitment to make a cost of disability payment a priority for his party in Government while there was also loud applause for his condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n
Those tipped to replace Mr Martin largely intimated this weekend that they are content to bide their time, a sign he has at least been afforded the opportunity to see out Ireland\u2019s hosting of the EU Presidency.<\/p>\n
Expectations are low for the forthcoming D\u00e1il bye-elections – meaning a hit on Mr Martin\u2019s leadership seems unlikely next month.<\/p>\n
Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary set some tongues wagging on Wednesday when he told RT\u00c9\u2019s Morning Ireland that “loads of people” had suggested him for the leadership but he would not consider it until “there is a vacancy”.<\/p>\n
\nMinister for Social Protection Dara Calleary paid tribute to his party leader at the Ard Fheis<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the Mayo man again insisted there is no leadership vacancy in Fianna F\u00e1il, as he paid tribute to the work of Mr Martin.<\/p>\n
Minister for Justice Jim O\u2019Callaghan said the leadership questions would ultimately be up to Mr Martin deciding when he wishes to stand aside, adding how the Irish public did not want to witness the political chaos seen in Britain over the last week.<\/p>\n
Minister for Children Norma Foley could also be in the mix, cryptically telling reporters that while she is too focused on her work to think about the leadership, she would like any new leader to be the right person, with the right ethos and that would happen at the right time.<\/p>\n
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers cannot be ruled out of calculations.<\/p>\n
Some are getting agitated with the wait.<\/p>\n
“Grassroots are looking for someone to take over \u2013 but there are lots of question marks on the future would-be leaders,” said one rural TD.<\/p>\n
Opinion was split among elected representatives and ordinary members yesterday on the impact of Mr O\u2019Callaghan\u2019s call to bring in the army during the fuel protests, with some saying it will fatally damage him in rural constituencies and others insisting it will be forgotten about with time.<\/p>\n
Several expressed the view that the next Fianna F\u00e1il leader should come from Dublin.<\/p>\n
For now, the next leader \u2013 whomever that might be \u2013 seems content to wait in the wings.<\/p>\n
Another person seemingly content to wait in the wings yesterday was Bertie Ahern, who appeared not to attend yesterday\u2019s Ard Fheis after all.<\/p>\n
Several delegates expressed support for the former Fianna F\u00e1il leader, with some repeating the line “he\u2019s only saying what people are thinking”.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Callaghan lauded Mr Ahern\u2019s contribution to Northern Ireland when addressing the former taoiseach\u2019s remarks on immigration.<\/p>\n
![\"Minister](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/00246023-614.jpg\"\/)
\nMinister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan speaking at the Fianna F\u00e1il Ard Fheis<\/p>\n
Others in attendance included former taoiseach Brian Cowen as well as former Independent presidential candidate Sean Gallagher.<\/p>\n
Overall, party figures described the mood at the Ard Fheis as “upbeat but not ecstatic” as the ‘Soldiers of Destiny\u2019 celebrated their 100th year.<\/p>\n
Prior to Mr Martin\u2019s speech, a rendition of the “Arise and Follow Charlie” Haughey support song excited some older delegates. The song brought Fianna F\u00e1il back to a time when it polled 45%. Older delegates lamented the smaller crowd this weekend compared to an Ard Fheiseanna of yore.<\/p>\n
The party\u2019s average first preference share across the last three general elections was 22.8%. The figure for its 2011 nadir was 17.4% – indicating the party has never been truly forgiven by the electorate for the economic crash.<\/p>\n
Some delegates expressed the view that Fianna F\u00e1il can grow its vote into the mid to high 20s with party grandee Donie Cassidy arguing new rules around party votes could help regrow the party.<\/p>\n
\u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv – whose grandfather Eamon De Valera founded the party 100 years ago yesterday \u2013 said it was “ironic Catherine Connolly was elected President on three core Fianna F\u00e1il principles \u2013 neutrality, the Irish language and the North”.<\/p>\n
Others dismissed this optimism and said Fianna F\u00e1il would see no uplift in its poll ratings until it changed its leader and demonstrated real progress on housing.<\/p>\n
For now, that leader remains in the ring and ready to take any punches coming his way.<\/p>\n