Cumann
{{Short description|Organizational unit in Ireland}}
{{For|the type of university society|An Cumann Gaelach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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A {{lang|ga|cumann}} (Irish for association; plural {{lang|ga|cumainn}}) is the lowest local unit or branch of a number of Irish political parties.{{Cite web |date=27 December 2023 |title=From Cartel Party to Traditional Membership Organization: The Organizational Evolution of Fianna Fáil |url=https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/25274/FF%20organisation%20for%20IPS%20July%202016%20Final%20for%20Submission%2021.09%20EO%27M%20edits%20%282%29.docx?sequence=3&isAllowed=y |access-date=27 December 2023}} The term cumann may also be used to describe a non-political association. Cumainn are usually made up of 5+ (the recommendation being 12) members of a local area and makes sure the policies of their political party are being correctly implemented.{{Cite web |title=Introduction to Sinn Fein |url=http://www.sinnfein.org/documents/introsf.html |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=www.sinnfein.org}}
Traditionally, Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil have called their local branches by that term.{{Cite web |title=Introduction to Sinn Fein |url=http://www.sinnfein.org/documents/introsf.html |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=www.sinnfein.org}}{{Cite web |title=Cumann na nGaedheal {{!}} political party, Ireland {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cumann-na-nGaedheal |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ogra Fianna Fail |url=https://home.q-su.org/clubssocieties/ografiannafail/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=home.q-su.org}} Fine Gael also uses the term to describe its local branches in the Clare constituency.
Structure of Fianna Fáil
The structure of Fianna Fáil is as follows; the elementary units of the party are the {{lang|ga|cumann}}, the {{lang|ga|Comhairle Ceantair}} (Area Council), and the {{lang|ga|Comhairle Dáil Cheantair}} (Constituency Council). The {{lang|ga|Comhairle Ceantair}} is a form of district unit covering a number of {{lang|ga|cumainn}} over a geographic area (usually a County Council local electoral area), while the {{lang|ga|Comhairle Dáil Cheantair}} is a collection of all the {{lang|ga|cumainn}} or all the {{lang|ga|Comhairlí Ceantair}} in a Dáil (parliamentary) constituency or county.
Structure of Sinn Féin
In Sinn Féin, the party structure is similar to that of Fianna Fáil. The principal units of the party are the {{lang|ga|cumann}} and the {{lang|ga|Comhairle Ceantair}} (Area Council), which consists of elected members from the area's {{lang|ga|cumainn}}. The {{lang|ga|Comhairle Ceantair}} is a form of district unit covering a number of cumainn over a geographic area (usually a County Council constituency). The {{lang|ga|Ard Comhairle}} functions as the Sinn Féin national committee and executive; it is composed of elected board members on an all-Ireland basis.
See also
- {{lang|ga|Cumann na mBan}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- Basil Chubb, The Government and Politics of Ireland
Category:Irish words and phrases