Fianna Fail

The Irish republican party of Eamon de Valera, founded in 1926, which dominated twentieth century Ireland.

Overview

Fianna Fail, Soldiers of Destiny, split from Sinn Fein in 1926 over the oath of allegiance, and under Eamon de Valera governed from 1932 with few interruptions: the 1937 Constitution, wartime neutrality, and economic protectionism. Sean Lemass opened the economy; Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern, and Brian Cowen led it through boom and the 2008-2011 banking collapse that destroyed its support. Micheal Martin rebuilt it to taoiseach under 2020 coalition with Fine Gael and the Greens, and the historic Civil War rivals now share government. The party remains the machine of rural Ireland, the republican tradition pragmatic, and a catch all centrist force.