![\"Fianna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788930491_549_.jpeg\")
\n Micheal Martin speaking to the media. Rollingnews.ie<\/p>\n
FOR THE FIRST time, in a long time, Miche\u00e1l Martin\u2019s leadership was not a talking point at a party think-in.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Senators and MEPs gathered over the last two days for the annual get-together in advance of the new D\u00e1il term next week at the\u00a0Tullamore Court Hotel.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s in flying form,\u201d said one minister, who pointed out that the Taoiseach didn\u2019t appear to be a man that thought he was going anywhere soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s true. Martin was in good form, working the room between policy sessions, keen to get around to all his backbenchers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The day before the party think-in kicked off, the Taoiseach partook in the festivities that had been arranged by local TD\u00a0Tony McCormack. This included a trip to Tullamore Dew distillery, where some whiskey was sampled, according to Martin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over the last year there have been criticisms from some within his own party that the Taoiseach does not pay heed or listen to their concerns. Something, of course, Martin has dismissed and denied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n Micheal Martin speaking to the media. Rollingnews.ie<\/p>\n
Rollingnews.ie\n<\/p>\n
After the dinner on Monday night, Martin did his usual of visiting each table for a chat.<\/p>\n
At one point he was seen between TDs James O\u2019Connor and Ryan O\u2019Meara, the \u2018young buck\u2019 TDs who\u00a0issued a statement just five months ago questioning the direction of the Fianna F\u00e1il party.<\/p>\n
Although they didn\u2019t name names, everyone knew that the blame was being put at the feet of Miche\u00e1l Martin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps this think-in was about getting out and about among those he leads, and those that criticised him, if not for the simple enjoyment of it, but because who knows when the tide might turn again in terms of the inevitable leadership discussion.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Guest of honour Brian Cowen<\/p>\n
Similar to Labour last week, Fianna F\u00e1il also had a guest of honour \u2013 former taoiseach Brian Cowen.\u00a0Cowen has been making steady recovery following a stroke in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In his opening remarks, the Taoiseach said Cowen was an \u201coutstanding leader of this country\u201d, stating that the surname Cowen was synonymous with Fianna F\u00e1il \u201cand with public service in this country\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say the decisions you took, which I witnessed in the midst of crisis, after the last great crash, those decisions which were hard ones were the ones that set the foundations of the pathway back to recovery and to a situation where we are today where we have resilient growth and a strong economy,\u201d he said to loud applause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The stark difference between the two Fianna F\u00e1il leaders is that Cowen was party leader for just\u00a02 years and 10 months while Martin has been in the job for over 15 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Martin has seen off many pushes against his leadership, and it has been a focal point of many a think-in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Fianna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788930492_732_.jpeg\")
\n Micheal Martin at his party think-in in Tullamore. Rollingnews.ie<\/p>\n
Rollingnews.ie\n<\/p>\n
Think-ins in the past<\/p>\n
In 2021, at the\u00a0think-in at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan, the Taoiseach saw down a \u201ctense\u201d discussion about his leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n